NEWS & MEDIA
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NEWS & MEDIA |
202-274-2354
Status of “Conflict” Diamonds and the Kimberly Process
WHO: Mr. Abbey Chikane, Chairman of the South African Diamond Board and the Kimberly Process.
WHAT: Mr. Abbey Chikane will host a press briefing to discuss the status of international discussions in resolving the so-called “conflict diamond” issue ahead of the Kimberly Process Meeting in Gabarone at the end of November.
WHEN: Tuesday, 20 November 2001 at 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: Residence of the South African Ambassador
3101 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
BACKGROUND: Mr. Abbey Chikane will be holding discussions with the US Department of State and the US Department of Treasury on the progress of the Kimberly Process regarding the international diamond trade.
The Kimberly Process is the result of the process which was initiated by South Africa in May of 1999 and had its first meeting in Kimberly, South Africa, to try and find a solution for the problem of so-called “conflict diamonds”. About 35 diamond producing and diamond exporting countries take part in the Kimberly Process. The Kimberly Process is expected to complete its work by December of 2001. The next meeting of the Kimberly Process is scheduled to take place in Gabarone, Botswana, on 29 November 2001. The Kimberly Process will hand over a document to the UN General Assembly in December of 2001 regarding an international certification scheme.
CLOSE: Media interested in attending the press briefing should respond by e-mail (media@southafrica.net) before 4:00 p.m. on Monday, 19 November 2001.
Media representatives must arrive 30 minutes before the event, that is, at 2:30 p.m.