A joint initiative against “conflict diamonds”

India and the EU offer coordinated proposal to chair Kimberley Process

Business & Politics

May 28, 2016

/ By / New Delhi

Biz@India



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Diamond 4

The European Union and India offered coordinated proposal to chair Kimberley Process (KP), a joint initiative of the governments, industry and civil societies to stem flow of “conflict diamonds” – the rough diamonds used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments. This positive move between the two comes at a time when India has accused the European Union of delaying tactics over India-EU Free Trade Agreement talks.

The EU will assume responsibility as Vice-Chair of Kimberly Process (KP) in 2017 and as KP Chair in 2018, while India will assume the Vice-Chair for KP in 2018 and the position of Chair in 2019.

This is part of the coordinated proposal offered by India and European Union participating in the KP Intersessional, currently underway in Dubai.

This was annouced by India’s Commerce and Industry Ministry.

Interestingly the cooperation comes at a time when India has accused the European Union of delaying tactics over India-EU Free Trade Agreement talks.

Early this month India’s Commerce and industry minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, observed at a media interaction: “India has written to EU trade negotiators for dates to resume trade talks, but there has been no response yet”.

Kimberly Process a joint initiative of the governments, industry and civil societies to stem flow of ‘conflict diamonds’ – the rough diamonds used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments.

Offering common solutions

Addressing the participants at the KP meet, Tung-Lai Margue, Head of the Delegation of the EU to the KP, said that the two delegations were making this announcement as responsible KP partners and “offering a common solution” so as to “(avoid) situations of conflict and (provide) stability to the KP in the next crucial years to come”.

Outlining the goals that EU and India shared for the KP, Margue said both would forge consensus during the next review cycle, to reach agreement on a number of shared priorities that would ensure the KP becomes stronger and more effective.

They would enhance cooperation and partnership with the United Nations’ system and with the international financial institutions; explore how the KP can contribute to the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Both the regions would also work towards an agreement on ensuring the effectiveness of the KP scheme and further strengthening its implementation and enforcement.

Quoting the EU representative, it said an agreement on the common solution proposed will provide the KP with clear and predictable Chairmanship for 2018 and 2019.

Manoj Dwivedi, Joint Secretary and Head of the Indian Delegation to the KP Intersessional Meeting, said India and EU had expressed the intent to work jointly in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) for strengthening it.

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