WDC Rejects NGO’s Conflict Diamonds Accusations
March 31, 04
The World Diamond Council (WDC) has rejected charges by Global Witness that major US and international diamond jewelry retailers are not fulfilling promises to fight trade in conflict diamonds.
Global Witness made its charges in a hard-hitting report released on Tuesday to coincide with the start of the WDC meeting.
The WDC admitted, however, at its third annual meeting taking place in Dubai, that more work is required to ensure industry awareness at all levels about conflict diamonds.
The WDC also acknowledged the importance of greater transparency throughout the diamond trade to reduce vulnerability to external threats.
Meanwhile, the three-day WDC meeting, which ends today (Wednesday), heard from prominent speakers of the important role the WDC is playing in developing and assisting with the implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.
Among the speakers were Nicky Oppenheimer, Chairman of the De Beers Group; Tim Martin, Chairman of the Kimberley Process; Viatcheslav Shtyrov, President of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) and Vice Chairman of the Kimberley Process; Abbey Chikane, former Chair of the Kimberley Process and officials from the US Department of Treasury.
More than 100 leaders from the diamond and jewelry industry worldwide, governments and other organizations attended the annual meeting.