United Nations
General Assembly
A/RES/55/56
Distr.: General
29 January 2001
Fifty-fifth session
Agenda item 175
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/55/L.52 and Add.1)]
55/56.
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,
Expressing its concern over the problem of conflict diamonds fuelling conflicts
in a number of countries and the devastating impact of these conflicts on peace,
safety and security for people in affected countries,
Understanding conflict diamonds to be rough diamonds which are used by
rebel movements to finance their military activities, including attempts to undermine
or overthrow legitimate Governments,
Recognizing that the vast majority of rough diamonds produced in the world
are from legitimate sources,
Recognizing also that the legitimate trade in diamonds makes a critical
contribution to economic development in many countries worldwide,
Acknowledging that the problem of conflict diamonds is of serious
international concern, and that measures to address the problem should involve all
concerned parties, including producing, processing, exporting and importing
countries, as well as the diamond industry,
Recognizing the need to address the problem of rough diamonds originating
from territories of diamond-producing countries under military occupation by
another country,
Emphasizing that these measures should be effective and pragmatic, consistent
with international law, including relevant trade provisions and commitments, and
should not impede the current legitimate trade in diamonds or impose an undue
burden on Governments or industry, particularly smaller producers, and not hinder
the development of the diamond industry,
Recalling all the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, including its
resolutions 1173 (1998) of 12 June 1998, 1295 (2000) of 18 April 2000 and 1306
(2000) of 5 July 2000, as well as resolution 1304 (2000) of 16 June 2000,
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