The United States participated in the annual Kimberley Process (KP) Plenary meetings in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, November 6-10. The Kimberley Process is an international, multi-stakeholder initiative created to increase transparency and oversight in the diamond industry to eliminate trade in conflict diamonds, a goal the United States strongly supports.
The United States regrets that meeting participants remained unable to examine the implications for the Kimberley Process of Russia’s diamond production, as requested by Ukraine and supported by the United States and others. Russia and a small number of other KP participants objected to the request, despite the KP’s mandate to address how the trade in rough diamonds fuels conflict. Russia also refused to support a public communiqué.
The Kimberley Process’ decision not to issue a Plenary communiqué following the meetings undermines its credibility by failing to publicly report its work in an objective and transparent manner, one of its most important tasks as a multilateral body.
During the Plenary meetings, the United States shared concerns about the ongoing conflict in the Central African Republic and its impact on rough diamond exports and expressed support for the future establishment of a KP Secretariat in Gaborone, Botswana. In 2024, the United States will continue its participation in the KP Ad Hoc Committee on Review and Reform, recognizing that reform is essential for the KP’s long term viability, and will advocate to expand the definition of a conflict diamond.