40 A new Kimberley Process rough diamond statistics system was launched as a means of containing the flow of conflict diamonds into the legitimate market and as a regular source of information on kpcs implementation. The system had built-in security measures to implement quality edit checks and controls to ensure data consistency during the data entry phase. Stressing that technical assistance from participants and organizations remained key to enhancing Kimberley Process implementation, the report noted, for example, that the European Community provided technical advisers to Liberia to help that country comply with recommendations made by the Kimberley Process review teams after their visits there in 2008 and 2009. The Working Group of Diamond Experts had been tasked by the Moscow Resolution (2005) and the Brussels Initiative (2007) to calculate the possible diamond production of Côte d’Ivoire on a yearly basis for two diamondiferous regions in the north. It had also been tasked with studying the characteristics of diamonds produced in West Africa, and assisting with their identification by developing footprints for the different diamond productions, in order to stop Côte d’Ivoire diamonds from being mixed with other productions. In follow-up to the Moscow Resolution/Brussels Initiative, the production estimates of Côte d’Ivoire had been partly based on satellite imagery. During 2009, the World Diamond Council trained staff to take digital photographs of all rough diamond exports in order to depict their origin, pending the production of footprints by the Working Group. Although the Kimberley Process had made significant strides, it still faced daunting challenges. Participants had occasionally been confronted with the appearance of fraudulent Kimberley Process certificates, which in itself posed a threat and a challenge for the Process. Increases in Internet sales and postal shipments had become a concern, as it had proved difficult to track and reconcile rough diamond shipments via the Internet or postal service. As for its next session, Israel, the Vice-Chair for 2009, would succeed Namibia as Kimberley Process Chair, with effect from 1 January 2010, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo would serve as Vice-Chair in 2010. (On the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1572(2004) [YUN 2004, p. 187], which monitored the embargo on the import of rough diamonds from Côte d’Ivoire, and its Expert Group, see p. 184.) GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION
On 11 December [meeting 63], the General Assembly adopted resolution 64/109 [draft: A/63/L.26 & Add.1] without vote [agenda item 12].
Part One: Political and security questions The role of diamonds in fuelling conflict: breaking the link between the illicit transaction of rough diamonds and armed conflict as a contribution to prevention and settlement of conflicts The General Assembly, Recognizing that the trade in conflict diamonds continues to be a matter of serious international concern, which can be directly linked to the fuelling of armed conflict, the activities of rebel movements aimed at undermining or overthrowing legitimate Governments and the illicit traffic in and proliferation of armaments, especially small arms and light weapons, Recognizing also the devastating impact of conflicts fuelled by the trade in conflict diamonds on the peace, safety and security of people in affected countries, and the systematic and gross human rights violations that have been perpetrated in such conflicts, Noting the negative impact of such conflicts on regional stability and the obligations placed upon States by the Charter of the United Nations regarding the maintenance of international peace and security, Recognizing that continued action to curb the trade in conflict diamonds is imperative, Noting with appreciation that the Kimberley Process, as an international initiative of the Governments of participant States, has pursued its deliberations on an inclusive basis involving concerned stakeholders, including producing, exporting and importing States, the diamond industry and civil society, as well as applicant States and international organizations, Recalling that the elimination of conflict diamonds from legitimate trade is the primary objective of the Kimberley Process, Calling for the consistent implementation of commitments made by Kimberley Process participant States, Acknowledging that the diamond sector is an important catalyst for achieving poverty reduction and meeting the requirements of the Millennium Development Goals in many producing countries, particularly in developing countries, Bearing in mind the positive benefits of the legitimate diamond trade to producing countries, and underlining the need for continued international action to prevent the problem of conflict diamonds from negatively affecting the trade in legitimate diamonds, which makes a critical contribution to the economies of many of the producing, exporting and importing States, especially developing States, Noting that the vast majority of rough diamonds produced in the world are from legitimate sources, Recalling the Charter and all the relevant resolutions of the Security Council related to conflict diamonds, and determined to contribute to and support the implementation of the measures provided for in those resolutions, Recalling also Security Council resolution 1459(2003) of 28 January 2003, in which the Council strongly supported the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme as a valuable contribution against trafficking in conflict diamonds, Welcoming the important contribution of the Kimberley Process, which was initiated by African diamondproducing countries,