The European Union (EU) has called out the behavior of Kimberley Process (KP) chair Ahmed Bin Sulayem at the most recent plenary, as well as the meeting’s failure to address a long-standing concern.
The union was disappointed that the plenary, which took place from November 11 to 15, failed to address the implications of the Russian war against Ukraine on the global rough-diamond sector for the third year, it said Monday. The omission has a detrimental impact on the credibility of the KP and on the reputation of natural diamonds, undermining consumer confidence, the EU explained.
“Following the continued objection from Russia to address the issue within the KP, the EU, in coordination with G7 [Group of Seven], has put in place a ban on Russian diamonds that aims to deprive Russia of an important revenue fueling its war of aggression on Ukraine,” an EU spokesperson explained. “To that end, the EU has envisioned a robust traceability-based verification and certification mechanism that would provide certainty to consumers that they are not purchasing Russian blood diamonds.”
Ahmed Bin Sulayem, chairman of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) and of the KP, took issue with the EU’s solution of a single node in Antwerp, through which rough diamonds would travel for certification, which he addressed publicly in his closing speech at the plenary.
“We cannot overlook one pressing issue impacting both our industry and particularly, the KP itself: Europe’s persistent push for a single diamond control node outside the KP framework, located in Antwerp,” Bin Sulayem said. The model “disrupts trade flows and adds a costly layer of control that directly undermines the sovereignty and economic stability of the very nations the KP exists to support. Let me rephrase that: This self-serving approach raises financial burdens and disproportionately impacts African diamond-producing countries.”
Quoting Indian Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar, he added: “Europe has to grow out of the mindset that Europe’s problems are the world’s problems, but the world’s problems are not Europe’s problems.”
In response, the EU expressed anger at what it deemed baseless claims.
“The EU also deplores the unfounded allegations made at the plenary by the Kimberley Process chair in the context of the ban on Russian diamonds,” it noted. “His unfounded personal remarks not only betray the neutral and facilitating role expected of the chair, but also stand in contrast with the decades-long spirit of the Kimberley Process.”
Bin Sulayem will hold chairmanship of the KP for 2025 as well, exceeding the usual one-year rotation between member countries.
Image: Ahmed Bin Sulayem. (DMCC)
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