by Mark H.G. Van Bockstael - Director International Affairs,

Diamond High Council (HRD), Antwerp, Belgium

Mr. Chairman,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Colleagues and Good Friends,

It has been said before, and |'m sure it will be repeated after me: since the start of the Kimberley Process, barely 5 months ago, a lot of ground has been covered.

In fact, so much ground has been covered that it is now difficult to remember where we all started from. The international diamond trade took up its responsibilities at the Antwerp World Diamond Conference in July 2000. The Joint Resolution that was passed unanimously by both the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA) was met by all parties concerned with enthusiasm.

Mr. Chairman,

As a member of the Working Group that came out of the Kimberley Conference, I have witnessed personally how a great deal of the momentum of the "Kimberley Process" is a direct result of the way in which you have conducted these past meetings and in which you drove us out of the doldrums. We honour and thank you for that.

Mr. Chairman,

The concept of diamonds related to conflicts in Africa, has been introduced on the international agenda only In mid 1998 with the passing of UNSC Resolution 1173, embargoing the sale of diamonds from Angola. With an exemption for diamonds accompanied by s proper Certificate of Origin from the Government of Angola.

Ambassador Robert Fowler of the Canadian Mission to the UN, then chairman of the Sanctions Committee on Angola made the fight against these '' conflict diamonds " Into his own personal crusade. With as climax to his efforts, UNSC Resolution 1295 that included a call for an international conference bringing together diamond producers and importers, trade organizations and civil society.

This idea was grafted on the Initiative of the Southern African diamond producing countries to hold such a meeting.

With this International Ministerial Conference on Diamonds, resulting from the "Kimberley Process", we have answered to this calling.

Mr. Chairman,

The Diamond High Council or HRD, and the Belgian Government have from the onset of the Sanctions on Angolan Diamonds, welcomed the efforts from the international community to sever the link between diamonds and conflicts. The Belgian importing authorities have immediately started to implement the imposed new rules on the trading of this segment of the International diamond trade.

Later on, the HRD has tried together with the Angolan Government, to improve and make more secure the export and Import procedures for Angolan diamonds accompanied with a Certificate of Origin of the Government of Angola. A new tamper-proof certificate of Origin was introduced in the beginning of this year. Furthermore, to guarantee that Import and export figures could start to match, the principle of the introduction of a so-called Import Confirmation Certificate was agreed upon.

As requested by the Belgian importing authorities (Min. Econom. Aflairs & Customs), the HRD-Institute of Gemmology has started to put together a Photo- Atlas of Rough Diamonds, in hopes of being able to recognize the mining areas of unmixed parcels.

Even before the Sanctions on Sierra Leone diamonds became effective on 5 July 2OOO, the HRD had already started to offer technical assistance to the Government of Sierra Leone to prepare for a certificate of Origin – regime After the adoption by the UNSC of Resolution 1306, the HRD joined a Technical Assistance Mission to Sierra Leone together with the UK, USA and Belgian governments. As a result of this mission, a proposal for a Certificate of Origin- regime was introduced at the Hearings on Sierra Leone Diamonds convened by the Sanctions Committee on Sierra Leone of the United Nations Security Council, July 31 and August 1. The following presentation will give you a glimps of what the "Universal Rough Diamond Certificate" could look like.

(POWERPOINT PRESENTATION ON THE CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN FOR ROUGH DIAMONDS FROM SIERRA LEONE)

The HRD and the Belgian Government reiterate their willingness to extent its expertise in this matter to help other African countries in conflict regions. This offer for technical assistance has already been extended for a good number of months. The HRD's views on this can be read at a dedicated website created specifically for this purpose: (www.conflictdiamonds.be)

As a member of the Technical Committee of the newly created World Diamond Council let me share with you some of the concerns that have been raised and that might need a specific technical solution:

+ To investigate the possibilities of origin determination of individual diamonds (geochemical fingerprinting a.o. technologies)

+ To alleviate the burden of proof for the jeweller if and when new legislation in the largest diamond market (USA) will be passed.

+ How to guarantee to an Individual consumer that his diamond is OK

Mr. Chairman,

In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that with the example of Sierra Leone in mind, it is obvious that a universal control scheme has to be set up. The essential components of such a scheme must include:

+ A tamper--proof Certificate of Origin, including a import confirmation certificate

+ Systematic information exchange between exporting and importing countries, preferably by secured electronic data-transmission

+ Physical inspection of all parcels as well on the export-and on the import - side

+ Sealing of documents and goods for export in tamper-proof bags

+ Monthly publication of detailed statistics by exporting and importing countries

+ Establishment of a dedicated centralised office per country with diamond experts that handles all import and export procedures

+ Inclusion of country of origin on all documents besides country of provenance (already available in Belgium).

And finally,

+ International monitoring by a dedicated Committee including all stakeholders: government, industry representatives, ngo's and civil society.

Mr. Chairman,

Being a very practical person. Let me insist on asking all authorities here present, thas as an immediate result of the signing of-the document by the Ministers next Thursday, all importing and exporting countries immediately take action to start publishing detailed statistics. Failure to do so would indeed be interpreted as a bad omen for the major changes lying ahead of us.

I thank you for your attention.

Speech Mark Van Bockstael- HRI)