Some time ago, everyone knew the phrase "blood diamond". Conflict diamonds - those that are mined illegally and finance terrorism and anti-government armed conflicts - have long been a major problem in Africa. Today, this combination of words is beginning to be forgotten, and the problem of conflict stones is almost completely eradicated. Now your chances to buy a ring with a conflict stone are reduced to zero - if, of course, you buy it in a store, not in a dark alley from a stranger for a quarter of the price. And it was thanks to the Kimberley Process.
Creating a process
In 2000, representatives of diamond-producing and trading countries, as well as non-governmental organizations, met for the first time in history to figure out how to address the problem. The meeting was held in the city of Kimberley (South Africa), so the resulting organization was called the Kimberley Process.
Sorting diamonds
ALROSA Diamonds LLC
The Kimberley Process, supported by the UN, was created to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the market - accordingly, to prevent people who illegally mine diamonds from making money from doing so. For this purpose, a certification scheme was developed. Each batch of diamonds in the market must be accompanied by a certificate confirming that these diamonds are mined outside the conflict zone. Only with such a certificate can a lot of diamonds cross any border.
In addition, a control mechanism is being built within the country to ensure that conflict or grey diamonds do not enter the trade chain. The Kimberley Process regularly organizes on-site inspections to confirm a country's compliance with these requirements and has all the information on each country's diamond production and export-import.
Process Provisions
According to KP rules, only countries participating in the Process can trade with each other, i.e. only those who can confirm the legality of the origin of diamonds. To date, the Kimberley Process has 54 member states (including the European Union, which includes all EU countries).
The Kimberley Process as an organization does not include representatives of companies or stock exchanges - only representatives of countries (government agencies). This ensures the absolute independence of the processes and excludes decision-making in favour of any particular company. For the same reason, the chairmanship of the KP is transferred to another country every year.
Participation in the process
The certificate is not the only instrument of the Kimberley Process. If there are reliable data on illegal diamond mining in the interests of civil conflict, the KP has the right to impose a ban on the export of diamonds from this state. In the history of KP, there have been cases of relevant decisions being taken. The ban is not removed until the state confirms that all required conditions have been met.
Russia was at the origin of the Kimberley Process. In particular, representatives of our country were present at that historic meeting in Kimberley, and also participated in the development of certification mechanisms. The Kimberley Process review visits to Russia testify to the full compliance of the control mechanisms with all possible norms, which guarantees full confidence in the non-conflict origin of ALROSA diamonds.