(Rapaport…December 29, 2002) Hundreds of diamond manufacturers and traders gathered on December 26, 2002 in the Israeli Diamond Bourse to hear leaders in the diamond industry speak about the Kimberley Process and its implementation.
Shmuel Schnitzer, President of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses and Israeli Diamond Exchange, explained the history and purpose behind the Kimberley Process and reinstated the importance of ending trade in “conflict diamonds.”
Udi Sheintal, the Diamond Controller at the Israeli Ministry of Industry and Trade, opened with an Amnesty International animated video demonstrating how trade in “conflict diamonds” induces human suffering. He continued with an explanation of the details surrounding the Kimberley Process implementation, including how diamond shipments must come sealed with a certificate inside and described the consequences of trading with a non-Kimberley Process country or trading in diamonds that are not “conflict free.” Sheintal presented an example of the Israeli Kimberley Process certificate and gave a line-by-line explanation of how it must be filled out.
Afterwards, in a question and answer session, diamantaires expressed some confusion. Questions were asked about the differences between shipping rough and polished diamonds and how customs will deal with sealed diamond shipments.