Ambassador Gillian A. Milovanovic, the new chair of the Kimberely Process (KP), says that the organization is reviewing the definition of “conflict diamonds” and has made a point to announce that the KP specifially deals in rough diamonds. Countries who participate in the KP Certification scheme agree not to import or export diamonds that do not have KP certification.

Ambassador Milovanovic stated emphatically that the KP was created for rough diamonds and that the KP was reviewing its goals, its strengths, and its weaknesses. In an effort to regain support of anti-blood-diamond groups, Milovanovic also stated that the KP is continuing dialog with NGO’s, who have criticized the KP in the past for being ineffectual.

“…our contacts with both Global Witness and a number of other NGOs continue. We are in constant touch. We will continue to be speaking with one another, gathering ideas, and conversing. So that is not the end of the discussion,” said Milovanovic.

London-based Global Witness, who was one of the first groups to expose the realities of conflict diamonds and who helped create the voluntary KP certification scheme in 2003, pulled out of the scheme last year, citing the KP's decision to allow Zimbabwe—known for human rights abuses at diamond mines— to sell gems.

“Nearly nine years after the Kimberley Process was launched, the sad truth is that most consumers still cannot be sure where their diamonds come from, nor whether they are financing armed violence or abusive regimes,” said Global Witness.

Despite Global Witness’s decision to pull out of the KP, Milovanovic claims that the KP has had a positive effect on curbing the conflict diamond trade and that the overall effect of the KP has been positive.

“The process went through great difficulty determining how to deal with the question of diamond exports from Zimbabwe, given violence and other matters. And this showed that there was a need to look at systems, to look at definitions, to look at ways to ensure that the lessons were drawn, and that the organization could determine best ways to become more efficient and to remain relevant,” said Milovanovic.

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