WGM Brussels Meeting Ends, Tentative Agreement Drafted (Updated)

Rough diamonds from Zimbabwe confiscated in Dubai in October 2008. KP is trying to prevent the resumption of mass smuggling by finding a mutually accepted agreement

(IDEX Online News) - The meeting of the Kimberley Process' Working Group on Monitoring (WGM) concluded in Brussels with a "tentative draft agreement to be approved by some governments," according to a meeting participant.

The meeting was called to discuss Zimbabwe's exports of rough diamonds from the Marange region after the KP Monitor to Zimbabwe Abbey Chikane certified a large stock of rough diamonds in the country and as a follow up to the KP Plenary in Jerusalem. At the conclusion of the Plenary, the draft accord, the Jerusalem Agreement, was rejected by Canada.

According to early reports from participants at the Brussels meeting, the Canadians and all other meeting participants agreed to a modified Jerusalem Agreement that was accepted "with some reservations." The representatives from the two present NGOs have reportedly also given their tentative approval.

Once the draft agreement gets government approval - we understand that the approval of the EU government was needed - the agreement will be submitted to the KP Chair who in turn will present it to Zimbabwe. If Zimbabwe accepts the agreement, the country will step closer to full rough diamond exports.

Another issue that was expected to be discussed at the meeting was Chikane’s continued appointment as Monitor. Chikane was subject to much behind the door criticism for his certification of Zimbabwean goods in Harare during the weekend of November 12. So much so that some called to terminate his appointment. However, perhaps due to a lack of time, the issue was not officially discussed.

(Last update November 25, 2010 3:0 am)