WORKING GROUP ON MONITORING

DR SIPHO MANESECHAIR: WGM

INTERSESSIONAL MEETING

ANTWERP, BELGIUM

18-22 JUNE 2018

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA’S CHAIRMANSHIP OF WGM

� Let me first start by thanking the current KP Chair, the EU and in particular Ms. Hilda Hardeman for the manner in which she has chaired the KP so far.

� The current Chair has gone through great lengths in including all working body Chairs in the planning and organization of this year’s Intersessional meeting, which ensures unity and cohesiveness amongst the leadership of the KP.

� In the year 2018, the WGM has continued implementing the goals it has set for itself in the in the WGM Work Plan for 2018 and we are happy to report that we are doing well as the WGM in meeting all of our targets.

2. TELECONFERENCES

• Since the previous Plenary meeting in 2017, the WGM has monitored the implementation of the Annual Work Programme for 2018 through teleconferences.

• The teleconferences are well attended and I really have to thank the WGM members for their participation.

• I would also like to thank the ASM, Ms. Elke Ceulemans for assisting the WGM in facilitating our teleconferences and disseminating information on our behalf.

3. ANNUAL REPORTS 2017• In the beginning of 2018, the WGM duly sent a notice to KP

Participants and Observers to start the process of submitting the WGM Annual Reports for 2017.

• Of the 54 Participants representing 81 countries, we received 38 Annual Reports.

• As the WGM we are encouraged by the pace and willingness displayed by the Participants and Observers in submitting their Annual Reports and more especially that all reports are completed in accordance to the prescribed template of the KP.

• However members are reminded once again about the timeframes for submitting Annual Reports.

4. REVIEW VISITS AND MISSIONS• The WGM has been successful in facilitating and concluding Review

Visits in the year of 2018.

• We are pleased to report that we have seen a significant improvementin the timeframes of finalising Review Visit Reports. The reports ofmost of the Review Visits that were conducted in 2017 have eitherbeen finalised or near completion. I therefore want to thank themembers of the WGM for ensuring that the Peer Review Mechanism isa success.

• In ensuring more participation and representation of the tripartitepartnership of the KP in Review Visits, the WGM will be proposing tointroduce a provision that requires members of the WGM toparticipate or lead at least one ReviewVisit/Mission per year.

• We will also be proposing provisions to the Peer Review MechanismAD regarding the composition and management of ReviewVisits/Missions.

5. COUNTRY SPECIFIC ISSUES (Central Africa Republic )

• The WGM has taken seriously the resolution of the KP in itsBrisbane Plenary meeting for the WGM and the WGAAP tofacilitate engagements in a bid to encourage applying similarmethods of cooperation in addressing the KP challenges inthe Central African Republic.

• Myself and the WGAAP Chair therefore embarked on a visitto the CAR on the 23rd -24th of May 2018.

• The purpose of the visit was not only to fulfil the aboveresolution, but to also establish the progress of theimplementation of the AD on the Resumption of RoughDiamond Exports in the CAR and the Operational framework forresumption of rough diamonds exports from CAR.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, CONTINUED…

� From the visit, myself and the WGAAP Chair established that the CAR economy is heavily reliant on the trade of rough diamonds.

� The sale of rough diamonds/shipments has significantly decreased as compared to previous years.

� As a result, businesses have closed down in the CAR and foreign direct investment has been adversely affected since the decline in the diamond trade in the CAR.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, CONTINUED….

� In addition to the report from the CAR, I havealso received a status report from the CAR MT.

� I would therefore like to acknowledge the workof the CAR MT, which has successfully facilitated17 shipments since February 2018, whichcomprises of 10 083 carats.

� I would like to personally thank members of theCAR MT for their diligence and commitment.Specifically, Mr. Pete Chirico, Ms.Carolyn Francisfrom the WGS and Mr. Mark Van Bockstael of theWGDE.

� Thank you all for your hard work.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, CONTINUED….

� From engaging in both reports, it is howeverapparent that as the WGM Chair, I will be meetingwith both the Monitoring Team and CAR KP focalpoint in order to find an amicable solution thatwill uphold the sanctity of the minimumrequirements of the KP, but also ensure thatdiamond trading industry of the CAR is notadversely impacted by processes implemented bythe CAR MT through its Operational Framework.

� The ultimate goal is to see all member States ofthe KP, trading independently within the ambit ofthe KP’s minimum requirements

MANO RIVER UNION� DRC as the leader of the MRU, has provided updates of the team’s

work within the MRU countries.

� The WGM will be receiving status report on the work done in the MRU, from its head Mr. Maurice Miema and the WGAAP, which was Chaired by Angola.

� The MRU had a workshop in Liberia, which will be discussed in detail during the Intersessional meeting.

� The WGM and WGAAP will be working closely together, in implementing similar modalities in the CAR as in the MRU. The KP will be constantly updated on these efforts, as time goes on.

� Again I wish to thank Mr. Miema of the DRC as the WGAAP Chair for their work in the MRU projects.

6. INFORMATION SHARING(fraudulent certificates)

• The WGM has detected 4 fraudulent KP Certificates.

• These have all been submitted to the ASM which has disseminated to all KP Participants and Observers for awareness.

• We wish to thank the Participants for their swift action in alerting the KP with fraudulent certificates and the ASM for posting them online as well as circulating to all Participants.

KP REFORM (WGM)

� The WGM Chair attended a face-to-face meeting on the 20th of April 2018, of the AHCRRR held Paris.

� The aim of the meeting was to discuss and deliberate on the proposals submitted by Participants.

� South Africa as the WGM Chair undertook to lead the sub-committee on the Peer Review Mechanism, in the KP Review process.

KP REFORM (WGM) � Of particular importance to the reform process, the WGM will be focusing on

enhancing the current KP on AD on Peer Review Mechanism.

� To ensure the effectiveness of Review Visits, we intend to introduce atimeframe of 12 months, in which Review Visit Reports have to be finalised,from the date of completion of the Review Visit. This will ensure that thereports are relevant and current by the time the they are finalised.

� Host countries will also have sufficient time to implement therecommendations of the Review Visit team before they are due for the nextReviewVisit/Mission.

� In our analysis, we also established that there are some member States that have not been reviewed in over 6 – 12 years, which undermines the objectives of the KP and WGM. It is for this reason that the WGM will be exploring ways of ensuring compliance to the KP minimum requirements of hosting Review Visits without infringing on the sovereignty of member States.

CLOSING REMARKS

� The WGM remains committed to ensuring compliance within the KP family.

� We are looking forward to having robust and productive discussions during this Intersessional meeting, while upholding the principles of fairness, equality and objectivity.

Thank You.