| Belgo-British Conference: dinner address by HE Karel De Gucht |
Dear colleague,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
If the availability of natural resources were defining for a nation's wealth, the Democratic Republic of Congo would be one of the world's wealthiest countries, and Japan one of the poorest. What should constitute a head start over countries that do not have these riches, all too often seems a source for corruption, strife among the people for the control of these resources or even violent struggle.
For decades, UNITA in Angola was able to wage a civil war -destructive beyond imagination - sustained by the money they procured from the diamond trade. In Sierra Leone, the rebels of Foday Sankoh financed their gruesome quest by plundering the countries resources, leaving a shattered country with thousands of amputees. In Ivory Coast, the recent civil war was at least partially fuelled by money generated through the cocoa-sector.
When speaking of West-Africa, I can not go without giving Charles Taylor a dishonourable mention. A man whose hunger for the riches of the soil wasn't limited to his own country, and who for this purpose -knowingly and intentionally- manoeuvred his and neighbouring countries into a spiral of bloody conflict. Luckily, he is in The Hague now, where Justice will be made.
Even as we speak, an unthinkable humanitarian disaster is taking place in Eastern Congo. Once again, the control of the coltan, gold and tin mines is a key factor in this conflict. Currently, among observers, a debate is ongoing about whether the struggle for the resources is the main cause of the conflict or just instrumental in keeping it going.
To me, it makes no difference. Whether political motifs are just an instrument to keep pursuing the control of the resources or exactly the other way around, is not essential in finding a solution. Either way, both have to be addressed in order to create the conditions for lasting peace.
Therefore I am often amazed when travelling in the Great-Lakes region and talking to leaders that voice legitimate complaints about one of the armed groups and demand that the international community would act. Often, when I mention that they hold an immense power in addressing the issue, by restricting the flows of minerals, I sense a degree of unease with my interlocutors. But then again, I am not always that much amazed at the reaction, being aware of many `ways and means' local antagonists have in exploiting available resources for their proper cause.
Ladies and gentlemen,
In case where local governments are unable or unwilling to address the issue, what can the international community do? Interventions are rarely an answer, as the experience in Sierra Leone has thought us. We are trying to convince other countries to give a swift and muscled response to the current crisis in the DRC, but this would only be part of the solution.
In order for the link between natural resources and conflict to be effectively broken, the issue should be addressed at all levels. As a temporary member of the UN-security council - unfortunately our days at the table of the privileged are almost numbered - Belgium put this issue on the agenda of the highest assembly, in our first thematic debate as president of the council. There too, we were confronted with countries that, out of a misunderstood self-interest, feared for their own resources and blocked the most operational parts of our presidency statement. One of many telling signs that ours is not an easy quest.
Now we're trying to get a broader debate going in the General Assembly. Once again, we are faced with tough opposition. We are very pleased to see that we have found a most willing and effective ally in the British government. I am assured that once Belgium leaves the Security Council, at least one member -and a permanent one- will continue to take up the issue. An achievement a country like mine could be proud of, but we should mostly be thankful to the government of the UK. On this issue, we now have a strong alliance on every level.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Governments have a role to play, but civil society and industry can do their part as well. The Kimberly-process, aimed at stopping the trade in conflict diamonds, is truly an inspiring example. The KP functions as an extraordinary cooperation between governments, industry and civil society. Even with all its flaws, it has been hugely successful in achieving its goals. There are those that say that judicial cases demonstrating that some still try to deal in conflict diamonds highlight the flaws of the system. I could argue the opposite: this shows that at least in these cases the controls are working, and that the perpetrators are being prosecuted and even tried and convicted. With severe sanctions, I might add. Rules that can't be broken are not of this world. One can hope that these cases make some operators think twice about side-stepping the rules.
The Kimberly Process is such an appealing example, that it becomes tempting to expand it to other commodities. But there is the old wisdom in sports that says: never change a winning team. The KP has been vastly successful in achieving its goals. Even though its goals were of a somewhat limited nature. Trying to expand it holds the huge risk of overloading it, so to speak, and thus rendering it less effective and credible on its core business.
Furthermore, the diamond industry has some defining traits that make a certification scheme more feasible. The bulk of the diamond trade passes through only a few trade centres, making effective controls easier. The world's diamond production could fit in to this building; with the world's copper production, for example, one could probably bury all of Brussels. A part from the quantities traded, diamonds have the advantage that each has defining traits that make certification much easier and more effective. To distinguish between two containers of coltan is much harder than between two shipments of diamonds.
This does not mean that the success of the Kimberly Process can not serve as an inspiration for other schemes. The abundance of and lack of transparency in the Congolese mining sector makes it an easy victim for armed groups to prey on. And even in parts of the country that have been relatively conflict-free for the last couple of years, the resources still do not benefit the people because of weak institutions and lack of transparency. Breaking the link between natural resources and conflict is just a first step in making these resources a driver for development.
This is why over the last years Belgium developed a policy aimed at enhancing transparency and good governance in the Congolese mining sector.
The application of the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, an initiative launched by the UK government, would bring much-needed transparency to the formal mining sector. The British and the Belgian government are doing all they can to make EITI a success in the DRC, though this is not an easy task.
In Congo, the formal mining sector accounts for only a part of the production. Artisanal miners currently produce an estimated 90 percent of minerals exported, according to the World Bank. They do so in dire conditions. In order to give a perspective for a better life to the millions of people who, directly or indirectly, depend for their livelihoods on the artisanal mining sector, we created the taskforce Mireca, which came up with a comprehensive plan to re-structure the artisanal sector, which was presented to you today. Now the proposed actions have to be implemented through multilateral institutions, and I would like to request the assistance of the British government for this.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Breaking the link between natural resources and conflict, enhancing transparency and promoting good governance in the mining sector and thus making resources a driver for development, is not an easy task. Political and diplomatic sensibilities, technical and logistical difficulties, let alone the huge interests at stake, make pursuing this goal a true challenge. It is safe to assume not all of our policies will be undivided successes. Perfect successes are very rare, certainly in the world of international relations.
But at least our two countries are working hard to address the issue. The United Kingdom and Belgium are jointly taking the matter up at all levels. I am certain our collaboration will continue and I truly hope it will be as successful as possible.
I thank you.
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