WDC Annual Meeting Calls to Continue Fight Against Conflict Diamonds

The sixth annual meeting of the World Diamond Council (WDC) concluded Tuesday, with a call to continue the drive to eradicate the trade in conflict diamonds. WDC Chairman Eli Izhakoff said that while the Kimberley Process (KPCS) has been effective in preventing diamonds from conflict areas from entering the market, the system will work effectively only if all diamonds are traced.  

Izhakoff, in his report to the plenary session, said that the Kimberley Process’ effectiveness has caused the industry to be concerned to today “with essentially a limited number of instances of uncertified goods coming into the market, even though the diamonds in question rarely are sourced from [conflict areas].”

“Our reason for behaving in this manner is clear. The system will work effectively only if all diamonds are traced, and not only those that are deemed to originate from conflict areas,” he said. Izhakoff added that the campaign against conflict diamonds must be seen against the backdrop of a greater commitment to improve the livelihoods of people in diamond-producing areas.

The Belgian Minister of Economic Affairs Vincent Van Quickenbourne addressed the opening session, saying that the WDC continues to meet regularly is a credit to the commitment and moral backbone of the diamond industry.

He added that the KPCS demonstrates what government and business can do when they work in cooperation. “The success of the KPCS is living proof of the degree to which government and the private sector can act as a potent and positive force when they work in tandem with a common goal.

Many speakers at the session praised the recent decision of the Venezuelan government to withdraw temporarily from the Kimberley Process. Izhakoff explained that “the incidence of diamonds from Venezuela without KP certificates has a great deal to do with tax evasion and very little to do with civil conflict.”

Alex Yearsley, a campaigner for NGO Global Witness, said, “It’s good that Venezuela withdrew from the process. This highlights the need for effective suspension measures, removing countries from the list when necessary.”

Addressing the meeting were Ambassador Karel Kovanda, chairman of the Kimberley Process on behalf of the European Union in 2007. Providing an update of the Diamond Development Initiative was Dorothée Gizenge, the organization’s executive director.

The gathering, hosted by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre, celebrated the fifth year since the launch of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme in 2003.

Although not confirmed at this point, the 2009 Annual Meeting of the World Diamond Council may take place in St. Petersburg, Russia.