(Rapaport…October 10, 2002) The World Diamond Council’s top two officials, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Eli Izhakoff and Executive Director Matt Runci, today urged governments around the world to implement the Kimberley Process rough certification plan without further delay.
Their comments come two days after the close of the Antwerp Diamond Conference — at which Kimberley was a hot topic — and less than a month before the next ministerial meeting of participating countries will be held in Interlaken, Switzerland.
Calling the regulatory measures agreed upon by participants “comprehensive and constructive,” Izhakoff and Runci urged them to be implemented no later than January 3, 2003. The industry — whose participation is vital to Kimberley’s success — must remain dedicated to doing its part to keep conflict diamonds off the market, they added.
“We fully accept the industry’s continuing responsibility to play an active role in assuring that the practices envisioned by the Kimberley Process have real impact over the long term,” the WDC leaders said. “Individuals or companies that fail to observe the new rules will pay a high price for that failure.”
Activists who believe the agreed upon regulations fall short must understand that any change would delay implementation, Runci and Izhakoff added. Any flaws in the system can be worked out after it is put into effect, they said.