A/78/PV.65 General Assembly

I now give the floor to the representative of Zimbabwe to introduce draft resolution A/78/L.54.

I would like to present the report on Zimbabwe’s tenure as Chair of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) in 2023, as well as to introduce draft resolution A/78/L.54, on this agenda item. Due to visa challenges, the outgoing KPCS Chair for 2023, the Honourable Winston Chitando, and the Minister for Mines and Mining Development of Zimbabwe, the Honourable Zhemu Soda, were unfortunately unable to join us at this plenary debate. At the outset, I would like to convey my delegation’s appreciation to the President for convening this important meeting on the agenda item entitled “The role of diamonds in fuelling conflict”. The annual consideration of this important agenda item provides an opportunity for the General Assembly to receive a report and be updated on the activities of KPCS and to renew its commitment to ensuring that diamonds remain a force for inclusive sustainable development, instead of a driver of armed conflict. We strive to continue building and maintaining consumer confidence in natural diamonds through the Kimberley Process tripartite arrangement. As articulated in the Kimberly Process core document, “the trade in conflict diamonds is a matter of serious international concern, which can be directly linked to the fuelling of armed conflict, the activities of rebel movements aimed at undermining or overthrowing legitimate governments, and the illicit traffic in, and proliferation of, armaments, especially small arms and light weapons” (A/57/489, p.8). That was true at the time when the core document was formulated, and it remains true now. It underlines the importance and, indeed, the continued relevance of Kimberly Process Certification Scheme. Allow me to share the statistics relating to production, imports, exports and Kimberley Process certificates for 2022, published by the Kimberley Process Working Group on Statistics on 25 January 2024. In 2022, there was a total production of 121,470,715.36 diamond carats, with a production value of $16,284,771,441.94. In that year, a total of 45,648 Kimberley Process importation certificates were issued, as well as 46,089 exportation certificates. That clearly shows that the mechanism is working. Meanwhile, the diamond industry continues to support the livelihoods of over 10 million people around the world and is one of the sectors that has the potential to solve some of the development challenges in the world. Zimbabwe was elected Chair of KPCS at the plenary meeting held in Gaborone from 1 to 4 November 2022, taking over from Botswana, which had been Chair for 2022. Upon assumption of the stewardship of KPCS, Zimbabwe made a commitment to, and presided over, the activities of the scheme, guided by its founding principles and the overarching objectives. This report is submitted to the General Assembly in fulfilment of the provisions of paragraph 18 of resolution 77/277, on the role of diamonds in fuelling conflict, in which the Assembly requested the Chair of KPCS “to submit to the General Assembly at its seventy- eighth session a report on the implementation of the Kimberley Process”. During its tenure as Chair, Zimbabwe held two statutory meetings of the Kimberley Process in hybrid format: the intersessional and plenary meetings, held in Victoria Falls from 5 to 10 May 2023 and from 6 to 11 November 2023, respectively. The hybrid format allowed both meetings to be as inclusive as possible, in keeping with the objective of leaving no member or participant behind. All the working groups and committees were able to successfully conduct their business during the reporting period, namely, the Committee on Rules and Procedures, the Committee on Participation and Chairmanship, the Working Group of Diamond Experts, the Working Group on Artisanal and Alluvial Production, the Working Group on Statistics, the Working Group on Monitoring and the Ad Hoc Committee on Review and Reform. During the plenary meeting in Victoria Falls, a special forum was held on the Declaration on Supporting Principles for Responsible Diamond Sourcing as Best Practices. It was organized by the Republic of Zimbabwe, in collaboration with the Working Group on Artisanal and Alluvial Production and the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association. The special forum provided a platform for the sharing of experiences on responsible sourcing, mainly with regard to the implementation of labour rights, human rights, environmental protection, anti-corruption, anti-money-laundering and countering terrorism financing, as well as on the development of local diamond mining companies. The Chiadzwa diamond fields in Zimbabwe are now a highlight of some of the positive gains from the Kimberley Process review done in 2012, and which the review visit of 2022 witnessed. Some of the best practices that the review visit identified included internal controls, security systems and a symbiotic working relationship between companies and communities. On its part, Zimbabwe has also voluntarily rolled out efforts to ensure responsible sourcing, through the launch and implementation of the Responsible Mining Audit. The Audit is meant to assess the country’s compliance with national legislation on labour, environmental, social and mineral governance and mine safety standards, among other areas. The commitment by the Government of Zimbabwe to share the outcomes with different stakeholders, including civil society and communities affected by mining, was commended by the Kimberley Process. We are ready and available to share this template on carrying out a responsible mining audit with any interested Member States in the collaborative spirit of the Kimberley Process. One of the significant milestones achieved by the Kimberley Process in 2023 was the decision to establish a permanent secretariat in Gaborone, Republic of Botswana, headed by an Executive Secretary. Efforts to operationalize the secretariat are progressing following the agreement on the structure and organogram of the Secretariat, its budget, hosting agreement and terms of reference. Zimbabwe is alive to and supports the fact that the Kimberley Process should adapt in order to remain relevant and effective in the execution of its very important mandate. Consequently, the Ad Hoc Committee on Review and Reform of the Kimberley Process is fully seized of the reform agenda, which is key to the Process as a measure to ensure that that body is able to adapt to new challenges and evolve in its mandate of ensuring that the illegitimate trade in rough diamonds is eliminated. The sub-team on the definition of conflict diamonds met a total of 11 times in 2023. The sub-team continues to advance negotiations on the expansion of the definition of conflict diamonds, in accordance with the mandate outlined in the 2022 administrative decision on the Ad Hoc Committee on Review and Reform, and which has been taken note of in operative paragraph 4 of resolution 77/277, of 2023. Meetings of the Ad Hoc Committee on Review and Reform have continued beyond the Intersessional and plenary. The reform will continue to be on the agenda of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme in the short, medium and even long term. The importance and relevance of the KPCS continues to be eloquently demonstrated by the high number of countries that have expressed interest in joining the Scheme. During the 19th plenary of the KPCS, participants agreed on 98 of the 99 recommendations, and, consequently, no consensus communiqué was adopted at the end of the plenary. We are, however, pleased to note that the Kimberley Process continued to carry out its mandate and functions without hindrance and that the diamond trade remains well regulated. Today’s meeting officially marks the end of Zimbabwe’s tenure as Chair of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. In that regard, Zimbabwe is honoured to submit its report on the implementation of the Kimberley Process, accompanied by draft resolution A/78/L.54, entitled “The role of diamonds in fuelling conflict: breaking the link between the illicit transaction of rough diamonds and armed conflict as a contribution to prevention and settlement of conflicts”. The text of the draft resolution derives from and reflects the shared commitment of Member States to preventing diamonds from fuelling conflict. I wish to take this opportunity to thank delegations, individually and collectively, for their active and constructive participation in the negotiations, the absence of a Kimberley Process plenary communiqué notwithstanding. As I conclude, allow me to express appreciation to all Kimberley Process members for their support in keeping the Scheme running within its mandate during 2023. I also once again congratulate the United Arab Emirates on assuming the Chair in 2024. We pledge our continued support and look forward to another successful year for the Kimberley Process.

I now give the floor to the representative of the European Union, in its capacity as observer.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union (EU) and its member States. The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina align themselves with this statement. The EU and its member States are pleased to join consensus on draft resolution A/78/L.54 today. We congratulate Zimbabwe on its good offices in building consensus in extraordinary times. Conflict diamonds have played a major role in funding some of the most devastating civil wars in Africa. We have come a long way since the Kimberley Process was established. It has contributed to peace, security and prosperity. It was constituted as a multilateral tool for conflict prevention and a catalyst for accountability and transparency in natural-resource management. Since 2003, the European Union has been committed to ensuring that the Kimberley Process continues to fulfil its mandate. The EU has funded almost €10 million in projects aimed at reinforcing governance in the diamond sector and the development of alternative livelihoods, for example through the Mano River Union, supporting cooperation among Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone as well as the Central African Republic. The Kimberley Process, however, is facing unprecedented challenges. For the first time in its history, the plenary has failed to produce a consensus communiqué. With a mandate deeply rooted in full respect for State sovereignty, this draft resolution reminds us of the obligations placed upon States by the Charter of the United Nations regarding the maintenance of international peace and security and that State sovereignty should be fully respected. Therefore, we cannot but condemn the aggression of one Kimberley Process participant against another. That is why we must continue to work to reform the Kimberley Process. We need to seize the opportunity of the review and reform cycle to broaden the definition of conflict diamonds to capture the evolving nature of conflicts and the realities on the ground. This is a debate that we need to have. The EU therefore makes a plea to the Kimberley Process to engage in an open dialogue and to bring its core conflict-prevention mandate to the current reform agenda. The EU also attempted this year to include language on the negative impact of the illegal trade in diamonds on the environment. Due to the strictly technical nature of this year’s negotiations, we were unable to sufficiently discuss this issue, but we look forward to elaborating further during next year’s session of the General Assembly. We look forward to working closely with the United Arab Emirates in 2024 and with all participants and observers in the years ahead.

The United Arab Emirates wishes to extend its thanks to the Permanent Mission of Zimbabwe for facilitating the negotiations on this important draft resolution (A/78/L.54), as well as its exemplary hosting of the Kimberley Process plenary in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, last November. As Vice-Chair, the United Arab Emirates has had the honour to work closely with Zimbabwe, and we commend its significant achievements. The unanimous adoption of today’s draft resolution will speak to the determination of the international community that the Kimberley Process continue to carry out its vital mandate. For more than two decades, the Process has been a success story in preventing the illicit trade in conflict diamonds. At the same time, it has demonstrated that significant inroads can be achieved when a broad range of stakeholders from across Government, the private sector and civil society work together while at the same time contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Now, 21 years after its inception, it is more important than ever to strengthen the Kimberley Process framework. As such, the United Arab Emirates, as the current Chair of the Kimberley Process, has identified three key objectives for delivery in 2024. The first objective is to establish a permanent secretariat of the Process in Gaborone, Botswana, which was just approved through written procedure at the end of March. We look forward to the inauguration of that secretariat office later in the year. The second goal is to ensure that the review and reform cycle of the Process will be completed also by the end of this year. And the third objective is to identify opportunities for strengthening the process through the use of digital technologies. When it comes to the Kimberley Process, the United Arab Emirates is dubbing 2024 the Year of Delivery. I want to take this opportunity to highlight that there will be two further decisive moments for the Kimberley Process later this year, both hosted in Dubai: the Intersessional, in May, and the plenary session, to take place in November. Through those meetings and our ongoing work, we look forward to deepening our cooperation with all participants and observers in this important process.

At the outset, we would like to acknowledge the efforts made by Zimbabwe as Chair of the Kimberley Process for 2023 and thus the sponsor of today’s draft resolution (A/78/L.54). By dint of circumstances outside of Harare’s control, this was not an easy tenure as Chair. However, Zimbabwe honourably addressed the challenges that emerged in 2023 and spared no effort to preserve a constructive level of cooperation within the framework of the Kimberley Process for the benefit of Member States, local communities and the global diamond sector as a whole. Unfortunately, driven by the notion of their own exceptionalism, representatives of Western countries decided to sabotage a whole host of international cooperation on the global diamond sector to serve their own geopolitical interests. This is the third year in a row in which the Kimberley Process has found itself under unprecedented pressure from a narrow group of countries. Unable to turn the process into yet another instrument to exert pressure on sovereign States, the Western States choose to sabotage its work and compromise its achievements, with a view to subsequently replacing the Kimberley Process with the unilateral, discriminatory mechanism of the Group of Seven (G-7). That has already led to a situation where during the plenary session of the Kimberley Process, held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, in November 2023, the final communiqué was not agreed upon. That communiqué usually includes the main outcomes and achievements of multilateral cooperation in the global diamond sector over the previous year and thus then serves as the foundation for the General Assembly resolution on the role of diamonds in fuelling conflict. Due to the fact that the adoption of the final communiqué of the Kimberley Process in 2023 was deliberately sabotaged by Western countries, today we have before us a General Assembly draft resolution that is largely technical in nature. G-7 countries in the European Union are not only behaving irresponsibly but clearly incompetently. Today the entire diamond community, including Western companies, are seeing how our opponents, with all the finesse of a bull in a china shop, are trying to engineer a mechanism whereby they would have a hold over the global production and processing of diamonds. As a result, the entire sector is suffering losses and is facing difficult times, and prospects for its future sustainable development are gloomy. In addition, which is the main thing in the context of today’s agenda item, all of this not only does not support the fight against the spread of conflict diamonds but actually hampers it. Today’s draft resolution contains instructions to the new Chair of the Kimberley Process, the United Arab Emirates, to report on the work of the Kimberley Process in 2024, during the seventy- ninth session of the General Assembly. It is clear that the United Arab Emirates will have no easier a task than Zimbabwe had in 2023 or indeed that Botswana had in 2022. This is a serious challenge and a great responsibility vis-à-vis the entire diamond sector. Essentially, the further functioning of the Kimberley Process is at stake; so many mining, processing and trading countries depend on it for their sustainable development and social and economic well-being. On our side, we intend to do everything in our power to support the effective work of the Kimberley Process in 2024 and to maintain its status as a key multilateral mechanism regulating the global diamond sector. We call on all constructively minded countries to pool their efforts in the fight against conflict diamonds and on Western countries to refrain from politicization of that concept for their own benefit.

At the outset, let me convey my delegation’s appreciation to the President for having convened this annual plenary meeting, debate and consideration of a draft resolution (A/78/L.54) on the role of diamonds in fuelling conflict. This is an important agenda item that highlights the work of the Kimberley Process as a General Assembly-endorsed mechanism for eliminating conflict diamonds from the legitimate diamond trade. I should note that significant progress has been achieved by the Kimberley Process since its establishment more than two decades ago. Today, the role of diamonds in fuelling conflict, if any, is negligible. Due to the relentless efforts of the Kimberley Process, a tripartite body consisting of Governments, civil society and industry, approximately 99.8 per cent of the global production of rough diamonds is conflict-free. In that regard, the Kimberley Process plays a key role in the promotion of international peace and security. Furthermore, the Kimberley Process’s protection of the integrity and viability of the global diamond industry ensures the continuous contribution of diamonds to economic development in developing countries. In that context, the Kimberley Process is an essential component in the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals. Let me also indicate that Kimberley Process members remain steadfastly committed to enhancing its effectiveness, relevance and fitness for purpose. It should be noted that the Process’s regular reform and review cycle is currently under way. Preparations are also ongoing, as indicated by the representative of Zimbabwe, to operationalize a permanent secretariat in Gaborone. As the Kimberley Process collective, we continue to count on the long-standing strong support of the General Assembly in achieving the crucial mandate of the mechanism. In conclusion, my delegation wishes to express its gratitude to Zimbabwe for diligently leading the work of the Kimberley Process in 2023 as well as for presenting the concise and balanced draft resolution before the Assembly. In the same vein, we wish success to the United Arab Emirates as incoming Chair. The United Arab Emirates chairmanship can count on Botswana’s unwavering commitment and support as a founding member of the Kimberley Process, as the world’s leading producer of diamonds by value and, most importantly, as a beneficiary of diamond-led economic development for a period spanning more than five decades.

The United Republic of Tanzania congratulates President Francis on having convened this 65th plenary meeting of the General Assembly on the role of diamonds in fuelling conflict. My delegation is honoured to be part of this April gathering that seeks to collectively reflect on the global commitment to address the threat fuelled by the exploitation, illegality and misuse of diamonds. The expectation was that nations would see the role of diamonds and other natural resources as a means to enrich human development, but instead the world is witnessing the use of diamonds in fuelling conflict in various countries. According to Ghada Fathi Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, there is a strong correlation between insecurity and the illegal mining and illicit trafficking of minerals and special diamonds. Negative forces, terrorists and transnational criminals have been benefiting from blood diamonds through various means, including illegal exploration, illicit trafficking, money laundering and native exploitation through unfair trade and agreements. What is even more worrying is the fact that the exploitation of natural resources has become the main reason for the vicious circle of conflict in many countries. According to the Secretary-General’s reports on terrorism, the Fragile States Index and the Global Peace Index, Africa is the continent most affected by conflict. It turns out that many of the conflicts in question have been fuelled by conflict diamonds and the illegal scramble for natural resources. Considering that Tanzania is a mineral-producing country and an advocate of peace, justice and human security, we have co-sponsored draft resolution A/78/L.54, under item 30, and will vote in favour of the relevant resolution. We support this draft resolution because it aims to address the insecurity fuelled by conflict diamonds. We are convinced that the relevant resolution is a necessary measure on promoting state sovereignty, poverty eradication, conflict prevention and the elimination of conflict diamonds from the legitimate trade, which are the primary objectives of the Kimberley Process. In that regard, Tanzania is calling on all Member States to support the draft resolution, and it is our hope that it will be renewed through consensus. My delegation is appreciative of Zimbabwe for the initiative to make this draft resolution possible and for its successful chairmanship of the Kimberley Process during 2023. In addition, Tanzania welcomes the succession of the United Arab Emirates as the Chair of the Kimberley Process for 2024 and wish to assure it of our full support and cooperation. In conclusion, the United Republic of Tanzania reiterates its commitment to the implementation of the Kimberley Process.

We have heard the last speaker in the debate on this item. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/78/L.54. I wish to inform the Assembly that the draft resolution has closed for e-sponsorship. I now give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I should like to announce that, since the submission of the draft resolution and in addition to the delegations listed in A/78/L.54, the following countries have also become co-sponsors: Albania, Angola, Armenia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chile, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Montenegro, Mozambique, Namibia, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, the Russian Federation, Senegal, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Timor- Leste and the United Arab Emirates.

The Assembly will now take action on draft resolution A/78/L.54, entitled “The role of diamonds in fuelling conflict: breaking the link between the illicit transaction of rough diamonds and armed conflict as a contribution to prevention and settlement of conflicts”. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt draft resolution A/78/L.54?

Before giving the floor to speakers in explanation of vote before the voting, may I remind delegations that explanations are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

The United Kingdom thanks Zimbabwe for bringing this important resolution 78/270 forward. We care deeply for the Kimberley Process, as evident in our active participation in its various working groups, including the three review missions of the Working Group on Monitoring that we joined from 2022 to 2023. It has taken hard work to establish the Kimberley Process secretariat in Botswana, and we commend all Kimberley Process participants for supporting that effort. We also commend Angola for having spearheaded the review and reform agenda and look forward to continuing working closely with all Kimberley Process participants and observers to broaden the definition of conflict diamonds. As a tripartite body, we value and welcome the Civil Society Coalition’s role in the Kimberley Process. The Coalition elevates the voices of marginalized people, including in the extractives industry. It is crucial for the coalition to be engaged in the Kimberley Process’s decision-making. The United Kingdom sees the Kimberley Process as an important conflict-prevention measure to delink diamonds from conflict. Although the Kimberley Process has succeeded in many areas, we would like again to express our disappointment at its inability to have a substantive discussion about the link between Russia’s rough-diamond revenue and its illegal invasion of Ukraine. Even a factual reference on the implications of Russia’s rough-diamond revenue was blocked, and, regrettably, that resulted in the failure to issue a final communiqué in 2023. We reiterate the need for members of the Kimberley Process to have a substantive discussion on this issue to ensure that the mechanism remains relevant and deals appropriately with issues that relate to delinking diamonds from conflict. We thank Zimbabwe for its leadership of the Kimberley Process in 2023, and we look forward to the United Arab Emirates’ chairmanship in 2024.

The United States thanks the members of the General Assembly for their engagement on this technical rollover resolution (resolution 78/270). We think that this is a suitable outcome given the fact that the Kimberley Process participants did not reach consensus on the communiqué during the 2023 Kimberly Process plenary. We reiterate the points made in the past that it is critically important that the Kimberley Process evolve to face the new challenges facing the rough-diamond supply chain or else it will lose its relevance. We urge Kimberley Process participants to work towards reform of the Process in order to further break the link between conflicts and diamonds.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote after the voting. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 30? Agenda 115 (continued) Appointments to fill vacancies in subsidiary organs and other appointments g) Appointment of members of the Board of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns

Members will recall that two vacancies from the Asia-Pacific States and one vacancy each from the Eastern European States and Latin American and Caribbean States remain to be filled for a term of office beginning on the date of appointment and ending on 20 March 2026. In that regard, the Secretariat has received the nomination of Barbados. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to appoint Barbados as a member of the Board of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns for a term beginning on 3 April 2024 and ending on 20 March 2026?

Members are reminded that the following vacancies remain to be filled for a term beginning on the date of the appointment and expiring on 20 March 2026: two members from the Asia-Pacific States and one member from the Eastern European States. The General Assembly will be in a position to act on those vacancies once nominations have been received by the Secretariat. The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item (g) of agenda item 115.