Carson puts on the charm

Addressing the 9th Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) inter-sessional meeting here, Ambassador Carson, whose public utterances on Zimbabwe have often drawn criticism from African countries, put on the charm, spoke like a skilled diplomat and avoided the controversy often associated with his name. Tensions have been simmering since the beginning of the KPCS meeting on Monday over proposals by the US and its allies to amend the definition of conflict diamonds to encompass so-called human rights violations.

There were also manoeuvres to place the envisaged KPCS secretariat under the control of think-tanks that have close links with Western militaries.
But none of that tension was apparent when Ambassador Carson delivered his well-received speech. He said he had great faith in Africa’s promise to expand prosperity and stability for all its citizens.

“In 2011 alone, African KP participants exported approximately US$10 billion worth of rough diamonds,” said Mr Carson.
“The trade in rough diamonds provides governments with much-needed resources to finance better education, health and infrastructure for citizens.
“It also attracts foreign investment, boosts economic growth, transfers valuable skills and provides employment for thousands of African citizens.”

Mr Carson lauded Africa’s economic growth prospects at a time Western countries were battling recession.
“I am confident in Africa’s economic future for many reasons. First, its economies continue to grow faster than those of almost any other region of the world in spite of a prolonged global recession.

“Eleven African countries, for example, had an annual rate of growth of seven percent or more since 2000. Second, trade between Africa and the rest of the world has also increased by 200 percent since 2000.”
Ambassador Carson said the KPCS had drastically reduced the trade in conflict diamonds, helped bring improved governance and transparency to the trade in countries that were previously marked by conflict and contributed to an improved image for diamond production in many countries across Africa.

“However, there is much more that can be done to strengthen collaboration between sellers and buyers to improve the image of diamond production across Africa to reduce and eliminate exploitation of artisanal workers and to ensure respectable and principled standards,” he said.
“All of Africa benefits from a strong, credible and effective Kimberley Process. When the Kimberley Process helps governments to address illegal smuggling or analyse the production capacity of their diamond resources, Africa benefits.”

Ambassador Carson urged the delegates to engage one another “in good faith”.
“The Kimberley process is unique and important,” he said.

“It is the only international initiative that works collaboratively with governments, industry and civil society to create a system that certifies an entire supply chain of a single commodity.”
Reforming the Kimberley Process was vital to its credibility and survival, said Ambassador Carson.