UN Reaffirms Support of Kimberly Process

The United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution that reaffirms its support of the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). The resolution stresses the importance of wide participation in the process to help prevent conflicts.

During the debate that preceded the Tuesday vote, the Observer of the European Commission, speaking on behalf of the European Union, said that nearly three years after the KPCS was launched, significant progress has been made in its implementation.

Several speakers noted continued diamond mining in rebel held regions in northern Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast). The UN Security Council has recently posed a ban on rough diamond exports from the country.

Canada’s ambassador said 99.8 percent of the world’s diamond production is mined by companies that are members of the Scheme.