Brussels, 09/10/2002 (Agence Europe) - Relations between the EU and Botswana and regional development in southern Africa were at the heart of the talks between Commission President Romano Prodi and the President of the Republic of Botswana, Festus Gontebanye Mogae, on Tuesday in Brussels. Romano Prodi congratulated his discussion partner for the economic and political stability in Botswana and assured him of the Union's commitment to give continued support to the country's development effort. EUR 91 million are allocated to the national indicative cooperation programme recently signed to guide cooperation between the Union and Botswana during the period 2002-2007, under the Cotonou Agreement. President Prodi noted his concern with regard the political, humanitarian and food crises, as well as the HIV/AIDS pandemic in southern Africa. Both felt that the regional integration organisations like SADC (Southern African Development Community) could play a determining role in this context.
Insisting on the importance of the diamond industry for his country's development, Mr Mogae affirmed that Botswana is a strong supporter of the Kimberley Process, whose aim it is to establish an international certification scheme for rough diamonds and to halt the flow of so-called conflict diamonds in the legitimate trade. Mr Prodi recalled that the Commission adopted, on 8 August, a proposal of Council regulation with a view to implementing this international system. The Commission trusts that the scheme will improve existing control systems within the Community, and will provide the EU with a useful tool to prevent the conflict diamonds from fuelling armed conflicts.