WDC President Eli Izhakoff addresses 2011 KP Plenary meeting

Citing that ‘meaningful’ progress has been made towards an agreement on the diamond exports from Marange diamond fields in Zimbabwe, Eli Izhakoff, President of the World Diamond Council addressed the opening session of the Kimberley Process 2011 Plenary Meeting in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, urging the forum to move forward with a renewed sense of urgency to tackle other matters of importance that surround KP.

He noted that due to this ‘progress’, ‘the atmosphere at this meeting was very different to the one that permeated the intersessional meeting earlier this year’. It has paved a way ‘for this forum to declare that the KP has succeeded in building a bridge over the obstacles that have stood in its way for more than two years’, he added. On that note he thanked the efforts of European Union, the African countries, and in particular the South Africans led by Minister Susan Shabangu, the government of Zimbabwe and, in particular, Minister Obert Mpofu, the United States to express its flexibility, and respective individuals and organizations. He congratulated the KP Chair, Mathieu Yamba, for his contribution in managing the Kimberley Process since the start of this year.

With the Marange diamond export issue almost hopefully seeing the light at the end of a dark tunnel, Eli Izhakoff also pointed out the key concern of reformations in Kimberley Process that are aimed at giving it a stronger management. Aspects like - appointment of a professional staff for a more sturdy management structure, discontinuing the practice of shifting the leadership and administration responsibilities every year and instead keeping administration permanent were some way he opined would enable the KP to hold on stronger grounds.

He also urged all members to stay united, saying “ What I do fervently hope is that an agreement confirms our commitment to meet these challenges and bridge our differences through dialogue, respect and a shared dedication of purpose.