Antwerp World Diamond Centre praised in UN General Assembly resolution

The Antwerp World Diamond Centre is commended in a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly. The resolution, presented by the outgoing chair of the Kimberley Process, U.S. Ambassador Gillian Milovanovic, highlights the role of the KP in helping eliminate the trade in conflict diamonds.

The resolution welcomes the important contribution of the Kimberley Process. It notes with satisfaction that the implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme continues to have a positive impact in reducing the opportunity for conflict diamonds to play a role in fuelling armed conflict. It mentions the role of the KP being instrumental in protecting the legitimate trade and ensures the effective implementation of the relevant UN resolutions relating to conflict diamonds. It also acknowledges that lessons learned from the Kimberley Process might be useful for the work of the UN Peace Building Commission.

The UN resolution explicitly applauds the efforts of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre in the development of a more efficient and effective Kimberley Process website. Furthermore, the UN General Assembly acknowledges the KP decision to establish a Kimberley Process administrative support mechanism (ASM), hosted by the World Diamond Council and supported actively by the AWDC.

In addition the resolution praises the work of the Kimberley Process Working Group of Diamond Experts, chaired by Mark Van Bockstael (AWDC), for its work in close collaboration with the UN Group of Experts on Côte d'Ivoire.

Stéphane Fischler, President AWDC, "This triple citation of activities spearheaded by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre in the Kimberley Process resolution of the United Nations General Assembly, is a well-deserved gratification and approving nod for all the hard work and resources that the Antwerp diamond community has invested in eradicating conflict diamonds."