laundering in support of the obligatory
implementation.
The WDC is also taking an active
role throughout the year in encouraging
reform by meeting directly with
organisations and governments that can
effect change in areas where the issues
of conflict diamonds are most acute. In
May 2018, executives from the WDC
travelled to the Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC) and met with the chair
of the Working Group on Artisanal
and Alluvial Production (WGAAP);
the minister of mines; the Center for
Evaluation, Expertise and Certification
(CEEC) chair, deputy chair and team; the
Diamond Development Initiative (DDI);
and DRC civil society members. In April
2018, the WDC pledged its support to the
Organisation for Economic Co-operation
and Development (OECD) due diligence
guidance for responsible supply chains of
minerals from conflict-affected and high-
risk areas.
“Together through the KP, civil society,
government and industry are making
important progress toward long-term
solutions that address the modern
challenges of diamond communities
around the world,” said Fischler. “But
that is not enough. We must also look
within ourselves to encourage dialogue,
listen to concerns and drive meaningful
and ongoing progress from within. By
constructively challenging policies and
procedures, together we will create a better
path forward and uphold the duty of care
we owe to the people and communities
where diamonds are produced.”
In his closing remarks, Sipho
Manese, chair of the Working Group
on Monitoring , informed that the CAR
Monitoring Team was able to shorten
and streamline processes of monitoring
shipments in the CAR to seven days, from
the initial two weeks. The US reiterated
its strong concern for the situation in
the CAR , where there are five Western
zones from which rough diamonds can
be exported lawfully consistent with the
KP. “Hundreds of thousands of rough
diamonds from across the country are still
exiting illegally, which underscores the
important work of the KP CAR Monitoring
Team to assist the CAR government with
monitoring its rough diamond exports,” the
US Mission to the EU stated.
In a separate statement, the Antwerp
World Diamond Centre (AWDC) said
that 2018 was an important year for
the KP, which is at a crucial stage of its
development. Under the leadership of
the European Union, the KP is discussing
an ambitious reform agenda with
three priorities: a deepening of the KP,
including the reinforcement of the system
of controls and the transformation of
KP recommendations into minimumSOLITAIRE INTERNATIONAL JULY 2018 61We must also look within
ourselves to encourage
dialogue, listen to
concerns and drive
ongoing progress from
within. By constructively
challenging policies and
procedures, together
we will create a better
path forward and uphold
the duty of care we
owe to the people and
communities where
diamonds are produced.”KP UPDATEThe reform and review agenda took centre stage during the Intersessional.