U.S. Losses KP Vice-Chairmanship Bid

(IDEX Online News) - 2011 started with a new Kimberley Process Chair, but without a vice chair. The U.S. was expected to be elected as vice chair last November, but the decision was postponed. Now the KP chair announced that the U.S., the sole candidate to the position, was not elected, a major embarrassment for the country.

According to a letter sent by Chairman Mathieu Yamba of the Democratic Republic of Congo, 21 countries supported the U.S. bid, while three objected: South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Because KP decisions must be made unanimously, the U.S. lost its bid.

The delay in electing a vice-chair started with a U.S. drive to untangle the Zimbabwe impasse, choosing to not create a confrontation over the vote before Zimbabwe's exports from Marange are resolved. The issue was not resolved and the delaying vote failed.

Traditionally, the vice-chair succeeds the chair on the following year. This gives the number two, usually a government official, a chance to learn the ropes before taking the lead. The new situation is a first for KP, operating without a vice-chair, and without a candidate for the 2012 chairmanship.