On the recordJuly 21, 2010
I wish to express my concern about the future of the Kimberley Process, the global voluntary initiative to stem the flow of conflict diamonds. Last week, key members of the Kimberley Process, including governments, industry representatives, and civil society groups, met in St. Petersburg to break the deadlock over whether Zimbabwe should be certified to export its diamonds. A year ago, a review mission of the Kimberley Process traveled to Zimbabwe and documented extensive smuggling of diamonds and abuses against civilians by police and army forces at diamond sites. This rightly led to Zimbabwe's suspension from the process. However, Zimbabwe has threatened to continue with its exports regardless, and there has been a push by some Kimberley Process members to reinstate its certification. Last week's meeting resulted in an agreement allowing Zimbabwe to export a limited number of diamonds on the condition that a new Kimberley Process Review Mission is permitted to return to the country and monitor conditions. This may be a workable agreement on paper, but it can only succeed with the good faith efforts of all parties, not least the Government of Zimbabwe. I am disappointed that members of the Kimberley Process did not take a stronger stand against certifying Zimbabwe's diamonds for export.
