RAPAPORT… Karel Kovanda, deputy director-general of the European Commission and Kimberley Process chairman, visited the AWDC (Antwerp World Diamond Centre, formerly the HRD,) on February 14, 2007.
He explained his role and exchanged ideas with the Antwerp diamond industry. Kovanda also visited rough diamond producers with headquarters in Antwerp including BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto Diamonds, and Arcos Belgium (representing ALROSA.)
“After six weeks the European Commission is now in the chairmanship of the Kimberley Process and the very productive and attractive meetings we had with the industry and with AWDC, we now have a very good sense of what the Commission has to achieve with the help of AWDC,” said Kovanda.
Kovanda stated his objectives would be to promote “continuity through consolidation” by strengthening the Kimberley Process as a uniquely effective instrument of international cooperation, with a particular emphasis on internal controls.