President Ernest Koroma pays working visit to the European Community in Brussels
President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma has called on the Belgian government to do more in the fight against the smuggling of diamonds from Sierra Leone by turning away all diamonds without a certified Kimberly certificate.
The President was addressing the Prime Minister of Belgium, Yves Leterme and the Foreign Minister of Belgium, Steven Vanackere in a round-table discussion (in photo) on Wednesday during his working visit to the European Union in Brussels.
He said though the introduction of the Kimberly certificate has greatly helped in combating the rampant smuggling of diamonds, there are still leakages.
His government, the President added, has reviewed the Minerals Act and all mining agreements which were not in the interest of the country. “For quite a long time since independence, the country has not benefited from its diamond deposits and Belgium, being one of the beneficiaries must endeavour to support the Kimberly process”, he appealed.
President Koroma also brought to the attention of the Prime Minister about the constraints Sierra Leoneans are experiencing in trying to secure Belgium visas because of the lack of a Belgian Consulate in the country.
He further gave an overview on the current situation and steps taken so far by ECOWAS in trying to resolve the Ivory Coast crisis.
President Koroma in Belgium
In his earlier welcome address, the Belgian Prime Minister commended the President on the strides taken by his government in not only maintaining peace, stability and democracy in Sierra Leone but the robust steps of his government in the fight against corruption.
He promised to look into the issues raised by the President and see how best these issues could be addressed. He assured of strengthening the already existing relationship between the two countries and promised that the current Belgian Airline flights to Sierra Leone will continue as a show of support and solidarity to the government and people of Sierra Leone.
Meeting with the EC President
In another engagement, the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy congratulated President Koroma on the progress Sierra Leone has achieved during the recent years under his democratic leadership despite the challenges. “The EU encourages and supports Sierra Leone in its efforts to address the remaining challenges, to reduce poverty, improve governance and human rights”.
(l-r) President Ernest Bai Koroma and Herman Van Rompuy
Briefing the press after a closed door meeting with President Koroma, Mr. Van Rompuy said he discussed the political situation in Sierra Leone and the preparation for next year’s elections, which according to the EC President, will be a major political milestone for the country as a whole. “It is important that these elections remain peaceful and non-controversial”, he reiterated.
The EU, he furthered, will provide support to Sierra Leone in the preparation of the elections. The European Council President thanked President Koroma for “his active diplomatic role, in the African and International fora, in favour of democracy and the respect of the political will of the Ivorian people”.
Responding, President Koroma said his government appreciates the role of the EU and hope the support of the EU to his country’s developmental strides will continue. He assured of a free, fair and non-violence elections next year.
The President later held closed door discussions with the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso.
By Chernor Ojuku Sesay, Information Attaché, Sierra Leone Embassy, Brussels/EU
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