KP Intercessional Meeting Begins in Dubai

(IDEX Online News) – The UAE became the first Arab country to host an intercessional meeting of the Kimberley Process (KP), as 200 delegates were in Dubai for its opening session.

“I see two key tasks before us; addressing the true challenges of today to strengthen the KP and to set a path ensuring the Kimberley Process will meet the challenges of the future,” said KP chairman Ahmed Bin Sulayem.

Bin Sulayem added that he wished for maintenance of the tripartite nature of the organization, with government, industry and civil society, representatives of which followed through on their threat to boycott the intercessional meeting, working toward a common goal. He urged the participation of a broad group of international and credible international NGOs to join the KP and be part of the diamond industry’s future.

Reflecting on the first six months in office, Bin Sulayem highlighted the importance of the work already undertaken with the Central African Republic (CAR), which have resulted in its sous-prefecture of Berberati recently being declared a compliant zone and progress in Venezuela’s readmittance to full KP membership.

The intercessional meeting was preceded by a one day KP Chair Special Forum, which focused primarily on rough diamond valuation as well as discussing the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) work on enhancing private sector contribution to responsible mineral supply chains and support to developing countries in raising revenue from executive industries.

The Kimberley Process Intercessional Meeting will run until May 26.