UN General Assembly commends AWDC for contribution in fighting conflict diamonds

In a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly and presented by the outgoing chair of the Kimberley Process, U.S. Ambassador Gillian Milovanovic, the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) is commended for its contribution towards the efforts of the Kimberley Process. The UN resolution explicitly applauds the efforts of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre in the development of a more efficient and effective Kimberley Process website.

The resolution highlights the role of the KP in helping eliminate the trade in conflict diamonds, its core role in protecting the legitimate trade and ensuring the effective implementation of the relevant UN resolutions pertaining to conflict diamonds. It also acknowledges that lessons learned from the Kimberley Process may help in the work of the UN Peace Building Commission.

The UN General Assembly acknowledges the KP decision to establish a Kimberley Process administrative support mechanism (ASM), hosted by the World Diamond Council and supported actively by the AWDC. In addition the resolution praises the work of the Kimberley Process Working Group of Diamond Experts, chaired by Mark Van Bockstael (AWDC), for its work in close collaboration with the UN Group of Experts on Côte d'Ivoire.

Stéphane Fischler, President AWDC, "This triple citation of activities spearheaded by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre in the Kimberley Process resolution of the United Nations General Assembly, is a well-deserved gratification and approving nod for all the hard work and resources that the Antwerp diamond community has invested in eradicating conflict diamonds."