The Kimberley Process Intersessional meeting, due to end in Tel Aviv on June 23, has yet to conclude as discussions continue over the issue of Zimbabwe’s diamond exports. Guests from more than 27 countries attended the conference.

Following a lively debate during a session that was due to conclude the Intersessional, participants from the Working Group on Monitoring held a closed session to try to reach consensus. The session continued through the night and ended at 7am arriving at no consensus.

Deliberations are expected to continue later today. One of the participants in the closed door session described the meeting as ‘taking one step forward then two steps back’.

The Kimberley Process Report on Marange by monitor Abbey Chikane following his recent trip to Zimbabwe concluded that the country had reached the minimum standards of compliance with the Kimberley Process rough diamond certification scheme.

While the majority of countries participating in the Kimberley Process expressed support for Chikane’s submission, a number of countries and civil society participants objected to the concept that Zimbabwe would immediately commence exporting diamonds from Marange.

Swaziland   - Another Possible Candidate

Her Royal Highness Princess Tsandzile Dlamini of Swaziland, who acts as Minister of Natural Resources and Energy, has granted IDI a short interview, while attending the Kimberley Process intersessional meeting in Tel Aviv.

Though Swaziland has no diamond production, HRH Dlamini said her country's role in the diamond industry, "Is to facilitate and ensure a conducive environment for (diamond) production, and the compliance with the minimum KP standards is created and sustained."

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