(Rapaport…November 21, 2005)
Press Release
Kimberley Process Participants and Observers, meeting in regular Plenary in Moscow on 15-17 November 2005, devoted special attention to illicit diamond production in northern Côte d’Ivoire. Participants and Observers noted with grave concern the evidence presented at Plenary that significant illicit production of diamonds is continuing at the sites of Bobi-Séguéla and Tortiya (both of which lie to the north of the zone of confidence.)
Plenary was informed of the actions undertaken by the KP Chairman and KP working bodies, notably the Working Group on Monitoring, within their authority to address the ongoing illicit production and trade in rough diamonds in the region. Plenary expressed its strong support for the activities undertaken to date by the Chair and by the relevant working bodies.
Plenary considers that the ongoing production of rough diamonds in northern Côte d’Ivoire, and the possible introduction of such illicit diamonds into the legitimate diamond trade, threaten the integrity and credibility of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. Plenary considers that the KP should undertake all possible efforts to assist KP Participants, notably those in the region of West Africa most exposed to possible illicit trafficking of Côte d’Ivoire diamonds, in ensuring that illicit Côte d’Ivoire diamonds cannot be introduced into the legitimate trade.
Plenary welcomes the close cooperation established between the Kimberley Process and relevant United Nations bodies, notably the Panel of Experts established pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1584 (2005), the UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) and the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee on Côte d’Ivoire, with a view to addressing this issue. Plenary strongly supports the continuation of cooperation by the KP with the United Nations.
Plenary, recalling that the elimination of illicit diamonds from the legitimate trade constitutes the principal aim of the KPCS, decides that:
1. The KP should offer to cooperate with the United Nations in carrying out a detailed assessment of the volume of rough diamond production in Côte d’Ivoire and of rough diamonds exported from Côte d’Ivoire.
2. The Chair of the Kimberley Process, assisted by the Working Group on Monitoring, should pursue the regular exchange of information with relevant UN bodies on diamond production and trade in Côte d’Ivoire and the region of West Africa. The Chair should keep Participants and Observers informed of this exchange of information.
3. The Working Group on Monitoring should provide regular assessments of the situation with regard to illicit production and trade in and from Côte d’Ivoire to the Chair of the Kimberley Process, drawing on all available sources of information.
4. The Working Group of Diamond Experts is requested to assist with the technical analysis of the volume and characteristics of production likely to be exported from Côte d’Ivoire. The Working Group of Diamond Experts is further requested to assist the authorities of KP Participants in the region of West Africa with identifying the characteristics of diamonds produced as well as trends in production and trade, with a view to identifying occasions where Côte d’Ivoire diamonds could be brought into the legitimate diamond trade. To this end, the Working Group of Diamond Experts should cooperate closely with the Working Groups on Monitoring and Statistics.
5. Participants are requested to report to the Chair any incoming shipments of rough diamonds which they suspect may contain diamonds of Côte d’Ivoire origin.
6. Participants are requested to consider providing technical assistance to diamond producing countries neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire and participating in the KPCS, with a view to enhancing their capacity to prevent diamonds being introduced illicitly into their internal rough diamond trade. Such technical assistance should focus inter alia on strengthening internal controls over diamond production and trade. The Chair of the KP is requested to bring the matter to the attention of relevant multilateral donors with a presence in the region.
7. Participants are requested to take appropriate action against any of their nationals or companies found to be involved in the production of diamonds in Côte d’Ivoire or in the trade in such diamonds, where possible, and to inform the Chair of the KP of the action taken. The Chair should make this information available to all Participants and Observers.
8. The representative organizations of the international diamond industry are requested to draw their affiliates’ urgent attention to the ongoing illicit production of rough diamonds in Côte d’Ivoire, and to request the full cooperation of all sections of the international diamond industry in ensuring that rough diamonds produced in Côte d’Ivoire cannot be introduced into the legitimate trade.
9. The Chair of the Kimberley Process is asked to provide a special report on this issue to the KP Plenary meeting in 2006, and to provide an interim report to the 2006 Intersessional meeting of the KP working bodies.