Brussels 27 April 2001

Concern at lack of progress towards a conflict diamond certification system

Civil society organisations attending the April 25-27 meeting of the Kimberley Process in Brussels are profoundly disappointed and deeply concerned with the lack of progress in efforts to end the trade in conflict diamonds. Despite strong South African and Belgian leadership, many government representatives stated that they had come to the meeting with no mandate to agree to anything, including even the most vague of wordings on issues that have now been discussed at five previous meetings.

The Kimberley Process is an intergovernmental forum, mandated by the United Nations for governments to create an international certification system that will put an end to the trade in conflict diamonds.

The next meeting in the Kimberley Process will be held in Moscow in June. There is no indication that governments will go to that meeting any better prepared to reach consensus. More than half an hour was spent at the Brussels meeting, for example, debating whether those assembled had reached a "broad consensus" concerning an international diamond certification system, or simply an "emerging consensus". Acceptance of the latter wording after pressure from the US, Russia, Australia and the European Commission, is an indication that the process is in grave danger of becoming stalled.

Civil society representatives also sensed a strong element of frustration at the lack of progress among industry representatives and some African governments.

Further stalling and inaction will damage the credibility and the viability of the diamond industry, and the jobs it provides for hundreds of thousands of people. More importantly, it will allow rebel armies in Angola, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo to continue their brutal wars against innocent men, women and children.

The whole Kimberley Process is in danger of unraveling. The time for hiding behind vague bureaucratic wording and platitudes is over. The forthcoming Moscow meeting will be the true test of government resolve on conflict diamonds.

This press release is issued on behalf of more than 70 non-governmental organisations in Europe, Africa and North America:

-30-