(Rapaport…March 13, 2005) Russia has taken steps to empower a secretariat set up within the purview of its finance ministry to implement the Kimberley Process, according to Kommersant news agency on March 12.
Russia, which became the chairing country of the process on January 1, 2005, has legally formed the secretariat’s working body. The secretariat’s first task will be to prepare a report to the United Nations Security Council on lifting sanctions against Liberia.
The duty of the secretariat will be to coordinate the mission for the Kimberley Process in West Africa. The secretariat will also prepare for an inter-session meeting of the member countries in Russia during June 2005.