Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan wish to join int’l rough diamond certification system

Bishkek, Mar.4, 2020 /Kabar/. In 2020, Russia had led the international fight against blood diamonds, the UN’s press release said. Delegates to the 74th session of the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution entitled "The Role of Diamonds in Fuelling Conflicts", which welcomed Russia's election as 2020 chair of the Kimberley Process. Adopting by consensus its annual resolution on breaking the link between armed conflict and the illicit trade of rough diamonds (document A/74/L.39), the Assembly welcomed efforts made to strengthen the Process, including ongoing discussions on a definition of conflict diamonds, the importance of capacity‑building and mutual support, and the positive contribution that rough diamonds can make to prosperity and socioeconomic development. The sponsors of the resolution welcomed the interest of Austria, Botswana, China, the Russian Federation and the United States of America in hosting the permanent secretariat of the Kimberley Process, but no decision has yet been taken in this regard. The resolution noted the receipt of new official applications for participation in the certification scheme from Qatar and Kyrgyzstan, as well as Uzbekistan's interest in joining the process. The Process, open to all countries, started when Southern African diamond‑producing States met in Kimberley, South Africa, in May 2000, to discuss ways to stop the illicit diamond trade and ensure that purchases of the gemstone were not financing violence by armed movements and their allies seeking to undermine legitimate Governments. In December 2000, the Assembly adopted a landmark resolution supporting the creation of an international certification scheme for rough diamonds.