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General Assembly welcomes certification plan to stem trade in conflict diamonds

General Assembly welcomes certification plan to stem trade in conflict diamonds

In support of international efforts to break the link between the illegal trade of rough diamonds and its fuelling of armed conflict, the United Nations General Assembly today welcomed the decision to implement a global certification scheme for the valuable gems.

The plan, known as the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, is a negotiating procedure to establish minimum acceptable international standards for national certification covering the import and export of rough diamonds. It also includes participation by the European Community and countries that produce and trade in the stones, industry representatives and civil society.

The General Assembly resolution adopted today welcomed the decision by countries party to the Kimberley Process to participate in the certification from 1 January this year. It also noted that the Process could help to ensure effective implementation of relevant resolutions of the Security Council containing sanctions on the trade in conflict diamonds.

Encouraging all Member States to participate actively in the Process, today's resolution stressed that the widest possible participation is essential and should be encouraged and facilitated.

The Assembly also decided to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session an item entitled, "The role of diamonds in fuelling conflict."