The Ministry of Economy and Trade has received on the 19th of September 2005, an email from the President of the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), Mr. Vyacheslav Shtyrov, informing it of the decision of the Kimberly Process Presidency, to readmit Lebanon starting from the 20th of September 2005 into the Kimberly Process, the international agreement that regulates the trade in rough diamonds.
This decision was taken following the request of Lebanon, dated 10/01/2005 to be readmitted into the Kimberly Process, after the entry into force of Law number 645 on 2/12/2004 on the control of export, import and transit of rough diamonds.
The Kimberly Secretariat had previously decided on the 30th of March 2004 to remove Lebanon from the list of States participating in the Kimberly Process for failure to meet one of the minimum requirements of the KPCS, namely the enactment of a Law on the control of export, import and transit of rough diamonds. Consequently, Member States were forbidden from exporting or importing diamond from and to Lebanon, until further notice.
The accession of Lebanon to the Kimberly Process is a very important step towards the reintegration of Lebanon in the legitlamte trade in this precious commodity. It also allows Lebanon to reestablish contact with the Lebanese community abroad that deals with rough diamonds. Lebanon is the second Arab country, after the United Arab Emirates, to join the Kimberly Process.
A copy of the list of the 45 countries participants in the KPCS was delivered to all public adminstrations and concerned parties, as import and export of rough diamond can only take place with member countries.