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Press Release: Angola's vice president Eng. Manuel Domingos Vicente announced Angola's candidacy to become vice chair of the Kimberley Process at the next Kimberley Process Certification Scheme plenary. At the celebration conference of the discovery of diamonds in Angola, underway this week, Vicente has announced Angola's willingness to take up the vice chair position in 2014. The decision will be taken during the next plenary in Johannesburg in December under the chairmanship of South Africa. The chair of the Kimberley Process for 2014 will be in the hands of the People's Republic of China and Angola is willing to take over this position afterwards. Angola has, since the start of the Kimberley Process, been a strong supporter. It also chairs the important position of the Working Group of Artisanal and Alluvial Producers (WGAAP). Paulo M'Vika, the chair of the WGAAP said, “As an important producer we have been instrumental in the Washington Declaration aimed to improve the situation of artisanal miners on our continent. The Washington Declaration was a welcome complement to the earlier Moscow Declaration. We are ready as a vice chair to take up an even more engaging role in the future.” Sumbula, the chairman of Endiama, added, ''I am particularly happy that on the occasion of our centenary we can announce our further commitment to the minimum requirements of the Kimberley Process, while at the same time opening our industry for further prospection and investments in the Angolan territory.'' Rui Mangueira, the Minister of Justice and Human Rights of Angola, further announced that the government is very determined to eradicate strongly any violation of human rights, which directly would be linked to the production of diamonds. ''The eviction of illegal workers coming to search diamonds on Angolan territory is a delicate exercise but can and will in no way compromise our living up to the high standards on the compliance with fundamental human rights.'' Eli Izhakoff, the president of the World Diamond Council, said, “We are here to honor a country that is a living example of the promise of rebirth, and a center that offers the most tangible proof of what the Kimberley Process is able to achieve.” Rapaport News is not responsible for, and does not endorse, the content of any third-party press release. This is not a Rapaport Press Release. It has been provided as additional information for our clients.
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