EU Statement – UN General Assembly: Adoption of the draft resolution on the Role of diamonds in fuelling conflict (Kimberley Process)

Mr. President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member states.

The Candidate Countries, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia align themselves with this Statement.

The EU and its Member States are pleased to join consensus on this resolution today.

We congratulate Zimbabwe for its good offices in building consensus in extraordinary times.

Conflict diamonds have played a major role in funding some of the most devastating civil wars in Africa. We have come a long way since the Kimberley Process was established. It has contributed to peace, security, and prosperity. It was constituted as a multilateral tool for conflict prevention, and a catalyst for accountability and transparency in natural resources management

Since 2003, the European Union has been committed to ensuring that the Kimberley Process continues to fulfil its mandate. The EU has funded almost 10 million euros in projects aimed to reinforce governance in the diamond sector and the development of alternative livelihoods, for example through the Mano River Union - supporting cooperation among Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, and in the Central African Republic.

The Kimberley Process, however, is facing unprecedented challenges. For the first time in its history, the plenary has failed to produce a consensus communique. With a mandate deeply rooted in the full respect of State sovereignty, this resolution reminds us of "the obligations placed upon States by the Charter of the United Nations regarding the maintenance of international peace and security" and that "State sovereignty should be fully respected". Therefore, we cannot but condemn the aggression of one Kimberley Process Participant against another.

It is why we must continue to work to reform the Kimberley Process. We need to seize the opportunity of the review and reform cycle to broaden the definition of 'conflict diamonds' to capture the evolving nature of conflicts and the realities on the ground. This is a debate we need to have. The EU therefore makes a plea to the Kimberley Process to engage in an open dialogue and to bring its core conflict-prevention mandate to the current reform agenda.

The EU attempted this year to include language on the negative impact of the illegal trade in diamonds on the environment. Due to the strictly technical nature of this year's negotiations, we were unable to discuss this issue, but we look forward to elaborating further during UNGA 79.

We look forward to working closely with United Arab Emirates in 2024 and with all participants and observers in the year ahead.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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