CAR Appoints Peter Meeus as Adviser

RAPAPORT... The Central AfricanRepublic (CAR) has appointed industry veteran Peter Meeus as a governmentadviser, in line with the nation's efforts to make its diamond sector compliantwith global standards.Meeus (pictured), asinternational diamond specialist and special adviser, will help CAR with itsattempts to meet the Kimberley Process (KP) Certification System rules andimprove the performance of its diamond sector, its government said Thursday. Meeus is a founding member of the KP, and a former head of the organization's team responsible for monitoring CAR's diamond industry. He is also a former director general of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), and was president of the Dubai Diamond Exchange during the United Arab Emirates' 2016 chairmanship of the KP, leaving the position on January 1 this year. The KP, which aims tokeep conflict diamonds out of the legitimate supply chain, banned CAR fromexporting rough diamonds in 2013 after rebels took over the nation'sgovernment. The global watchdog readmitted the country in 2016, permitting itto resume exports from certain regions that the KP deemed compliant. "I am delighted withthis appointment, which is an important step in the transformation of ourdiamond industry," said Leopold Mboli Fatran, CAR's minister of mines andgeology.The appointment comesahead of the KP's annual intersessional meeting in Antwerp next week.