U.S. Joins Kimberley Process

The Interlaken Declaration is the culmination of two years of intensive coordination and cooperation among governments in a global coalition, including the diamond industry and civil society, to cut off the use of diamonds to finance rebel movements which have destabilized governments and terrorized people in Africa. These negotiations led to creation of a global rough diamond certification system, which has been endorsed by the United National General Assembly.

The United States has worked intensively over the past two years to combat the conflict diamonds trade. The creation of this trading system fulfills an international commitment to the innocent victims of conflicts that have been fueled by the proceeds of conflict diamond transactions. The Kimberley Process will help curb the financing of rebel movements in the future and curtail their ability to threaten civilians. It enables governments to use their diamond resources to finance economic and social development, to the benefit of their people. And it protects the legitimate diamond industry, which is responsible for the vast majority of rough diamonds traded worldwide.