Statement of Mr. Alexey Moiseev, Deputy Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation and Outgoing Chair in Kimberley Process, delivered at the ECOSOC Special Meeting «Natural Resources, Peaceful Societies and Sustainable Development: Lessons from the Kimberley Process»
Dear ladies and gentlemen,
Greetings to all delegates of the Economic and Social Council Special Meeting! It is an honor and a privilege to address this assembly, alas in a video message due to a refusal of issuing a visa.
In my capacity as Kimberley Process Chair (KP), I note with confidence that the KP Certification Scheme (KPCS) has demonstrated its flexibility and readiness to adapt its existing mechanisms to the post-pandemic world.
We set ourselves on a global trend of digitalization, in the form of electronic exchange of information of the KP Certificates to ease and accelerate diamond trading mechanisms, already implemented by the KP Participants, thereby permitting greater transparency and traceability.
We are committed to the key principles of sustainable community development, where the end-consumer is aware of the positive impact that the diamond industry brings to states and their people, as reflected in the Declaration “On Supporting Principles for Responsible Diamond Sourcing” adopted by KP Plenary as best practices for the industry. This formal confirmation of our drive for sustainability will also give KP an opportunity to foster closer relationships with international institutions to exchange information and experience.
We also believe that the expansion of the KP Family in 2021 through the admission of Kyrgyzstan, Mozambique and Qatar will make a tangible contribution to further development of global conflict-free trade in rough diamonds. A number of other countries expressed interest to participate in the KP, which is always welcome and which will further the diamond industry’s impact on sustainable development for peaceful communities.
However, our achievements in the artisanal and small mining sector, ASM for short, may be best suited to demonstrate KP’s impact on sustainable development. As we are well aware in the KP, ASM represents a solid part of many countries’ economies, vital for further socio-economic development of directly involved communities and binding a conflict-free diamond trade and, of course, preventing supply chain contamination.
Collectively we welcomed the progress in the ASM statistical data submission and management and we recognized the importance of formalizing the ASM sector in Central Africa with the assistance of KP Participants, Industry and Civil Society.
I am convinced that we should move forward to establish unified standards of the ASM in order to make the entire production chain transparent and traceable.
Every decision made by the KP Plenary promotes further development of diamond trade promoting sustainable development for peaceful communities across the globe. Our priorities focused on the practical side of KPCS implementation and on the need to make sure that the KP itself stays relevant in the post-pandemic world and far beyond.
I would like to convey to the participants of the conference my best wishes for its success!
Thank you!
