Mr. Chair, Excellences, Dear colleagues,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member states.

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia*, Montenegro^*, Serbia*, Albania^*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina^*, and Georgia, align themselves with this statement.

The EU congratulates the United Arab Emirates for its good offices in building consensus in extraordinary times. 

However, we regret that a number of votes are being called on this resolution, despite years of consensus, and we will continue our staunch support of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals. 

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. This joint initiative of Governments, civil society, and industry has had valuable developmental impact in improving the lives of people dependent on the trade in diamonds, reinforcing the message that diamonds belong to the communities that mine them, not to militias.

Since its creation in 2003, the European Union has been committed to ensuring that the Kimberley Process continues to fulfil its core mandate of breaking the link between diamonds and conflict. The EU has funded approximately 10 million euros in projects aimed to reinforce 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, and in the Central African Republic. The EU has also been among the most active supporters of the Kimberley Process reform and the broadening of the definition of conflict diamonds. However, due to lack of consensus, since the Kimberley Process was established, the definition of conflict diamonds remains very narrow, focused on the notion of rebel movements undermining legitimate governments.

The EU has led for several years the work to reform the Kimberley Process in an exerted effort to help it remain relevant and credible in a changing world, and ensure the legitimacy of its Certification Scheme. We must seize the opportunity of the final year 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. Thus, we are pleased to see this sentiment reflected in the text.

Unfortunately, the Kimberley Process continues to face unprecedented challenges. With a mandate deeply rooted in the full respect of State sovereignty, this 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”. We insist that these principles be respected by all member states, and regret that the Kimberley Process has failed to address modern challenges. 

The EU also believes that the negative impact of the illegal trade in diamonds on the environment deserves mentioning in this resolution. Due to the technical nature of this year’s negotiations, we were unable to adequately discuss this issue, but we look forward to continued elaboration during UNGA 80.  

We look forward to working with United Arab Emirates in 2025 and with all participants and observers in the year ahead.

Thank you. 
 

* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.