A/RES/61/28 Recognizing that State sovereignty should be fully respected and that the principles of equality, mutual benefits and consensus should be adhered to, Recognizing also that the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, which came into effect on 1 January 2003, will be credible only if all participants have requisite national legislation coupled with effective and credible internal systems of control designed to eliminate the presence of conflict diamonds in the chain of producing, exporting and importing rough diamonds within their own territories, while taking into account that differences in production methods and trading practices, as well as differences in institutional controls thereof, may require different approaches to meeting minimum standards, Reaffirms its strong and continuing support for the Kimberley Process 1. Certification Scheme1 and the Kimberley Process as a whole; 2. Recognizes that the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme can help to ensure the effective implementation of relevant resolutions of the Security Council containing sanctions on the trade in conflict diamonds and act as a mechanism for the prevention of future conflicts, and calls for the full implementation of existing Council measures targeting the illicit trade in rough diamonds, particularly conflict diamonds which play a role in fuelling conflict; Also recognizes the important contributions that the international efforts 3. to address the problem of conflict diamonds, including the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, have made to the settlement of conflicts and the consolidation of peace in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia and Sierra Leone; Takes note of Security Council resolution 1643 (2005) of 15 December 4. 2005 which calls upon the States in the West Africa region that are not participants in the Kimberley Process to intensify their efforts to join the Process, stresses that the widest possible participation in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is essential, and encourages all Member States to contribute to the work of the Process by seeking membership, participating actively in the Certification Scheme and complying with its undertakings; Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Chair of the Kimberley 5. Process submitted pursuant to resolution 60/182, 3 and congratulates the Governments, the regional economic integration organization, the diamond industry and civil society participating in the Process for contributing to the development, implementation and monitoring of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme; Notes the decision of the General Council of the World Trade 6. Organization of 15 May 2003 granting a waiver with respect to the measures taken to implement the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, effective from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2006, 4 and the decision of the General Council of 17 November 2006 granting an extension of the waiver until 31 December 2012; 5 7. Notes with satisfaction that in line with paragraph 7 of its resolution 60/182, the preliminary development of “footprints” that characterize diamond production from Côte d’Ivoire has been undertaken, and encourages expeditious _______________ 3 A/61/589, annex. World Trade Organization, document WT/L/518. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. 5 World Trade Organization, document G/C/W/559/Rev.1. Available from http://docsonline. wto.org. 4 3