Ottawa – Global Affairs Canada has issued the following statement:
“Canada participated in the 21st Plenary Meeting of the Kimberley Process on Conflict Diamonds held recently, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. As a founding member, Canada values this multilateral forum for the role that it has played in breaking the link between conflict and diamonds since its founding in 2003.
“Unfortunately for the third year in a row, Russia blocked participants from discussing the role that the sale of its rough diamonds plays in funding its illegal invasion of Ukraine. Canada continues to support Ukraine’s call that the Kimberley Process address how Russian diamonds are fuelling its illegal, full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Kimberley Process’s inability to examine this issue underscores the need for meaningful reform, in particular by expanding the definition of conflict diamonds, so it remains a legitimate conflict prevention mechanism. Canada, a leading rough diamond producing country, is committed to this work and will continue to push for a definition in keeping with modern demands and expectations.
“Canada was pleased to contribute efforts that saw the lifting of rough diamond export restrictions, subject to continued enhanced vigilance measures, in the Central African Republic (CAR). This development will allow the citizens of the CAR to benefit from their rough diamond resource wealth while ensuring compliance with the Kimberley Process requirements.”