The Kimberley Process plenary meeting in Zimbabwe has reached a bitter ending after concluding with a deadlock over the definition of ‘conflict diamonds’.
According to reporting by IDEX, after a week of debate, the closing communique took more than 12 hours longer than expected.
The disagreement concerned a proposal to broaden the definition of conflict diamonds to include ‘rough diamonds used to finance wars against governments’.
Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and the Central African Republic have argued that this proposal is politically motivated and beyond the remit of the Kimberley Process.
The Kimberley Process currently defines blood diamonds as ‘diamonds sold to finance rebel groups’. The proposal sought to expand this definition to include ‘state actors’ to include diamonds mined in Russia.
The Kimberley Process Civil Society Coalition is a non-governmental organisation that acts as an observer to the KPCS. Coordinator Michel Yoboué released a statement airing his frustrations over the lack of progress.
“We have been pushing tirelessly to break the links between diamonds and conflict. We want to see action, but we can’t even agree on simple words,” he said.
“This plenary can’t even note the simple fact that it received a letter from Ukraine on the role of diamonds in financing Russia’s war against Ukraine. We can no longer observe this sad spectacle that continues to erode responsible diamond governance.
He added: “We have no confidence in these discussions and will now leave this meeting. We can only hope that a good crisis can serve as catharsis and will finally get some sense into this deadlocked process.”
The Kimberley Process was established in 2003 and has 85 participants, including industry representatives and civil society organisations.
More reading
Russia accuses Western powers of compromising Kimberley Process
Interruption or Disruption: Leadership crisis in the diamond industry
Russian rough exports in decline
US crackdown on Russian diamonds expected early next year
Asscher mounts defence of Kimberley Process
Reputations at stake as Russian diamond trade survives sanctions
Turmoil at Kimberley Process over future leadership
Fight continues over “blood diamond” definition
