Kimberly Process crucial for diamond industry’s survival

The diamond industry needs the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme to be effective and credible so that it can be sustainable, chairman of the World Diamond Council, Eli Izhakoff, told a meeting of the Kimberley Process Plenary in Botswana this week. The Kimberly Process is a collaboration of governments, civil society and the international diamond industry aimed at eradicating conflict diamonds. The process was launched six years ago. “We, in the diamond industry, acknowledge that to ensure a sustainable future for ourselves, countries like Botswana, the other diamond producing countries and critically those countries recovering from conflict, the industry must act responsibly and ensure that our business is both transparent and accountable. In order to achieve this we need a Kimberley Process Certification Scheme that is effective and above all credible,” said Izhakoff.

Izhakoff said the international diamond industry believes that a workable and effective Kimberley Process is absolutely essential if the industry is to be properly protected from criminal activity and rebel or terrorist organizations. Izhakoff said the World Diamond Council believes it important for the credibility of the Kimberley Process that statistics on the movement of rough diamonds are made public.