Armenia being potential state-participant of the Kimberley Process (KP) has been purchasing and selling rough diamonds only with the state-participants of the process since 2003. Any cargo of rough diamonds imported to or exported from Armenia should be accompanied with the Kimberley certificate.

Total of 39 applicants received the Kimberley export certificate with total of 43,000 carats, while 97 applicants received the Kimberley import certificate with total of 87,000 carats in the first half of this year, the Armenian Ministry of Economy report informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

According to the Armenian customs service agencies, the diamond supplier-states for Armenia in the first half of the year were Belgium (21,800 carats), UAE (14,400), India (12,100) and Russia (8,200).

The KP is a joint governments, industry and civil society initiative to stem the flow of conflict diamonds – rough diamonds used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments.