WFDB warns of conflict diamonds from Zimbabwe

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WFDB warns of conflict diamonds from Zimbabwe

April 02, 2009

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Antwerp, Belgium--The World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) is asking all 28 member bourses to avoid trade, either directly or indirectly, with diamonds originating from the Marange deposits in Zimbabwe.

This is in reaction to numerous reports of violations of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPSC) in Zimbabwe, according to the WFDB.

The KPSC imposes extensive requirements on its members to enable them to certify shipments of rough diamonds as "conflict-free." The scheme is the result of the Kimberley Process (KP), a joint governmental, industry and civil society initiative to stem the flow of "conflict diamonds," or rough diamonds used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments.

WFDB President Avi Paz said in a media release that the WFDB and its members are committed to do all they can to prevent conflict diamonds from Zimbabwe or from any other source to be traded by members.

"As founding members of the World Diamond Council and as signatories to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, it is our duty to remind not only our own members but all those who operate in the diamond industry and trade of the devastating impact of conflicts fuelled by the trade in conflict diamonds on the peace, safety and security of people in affected countries, and the systematic and gross human rights violations that have been perpetrated in such conflicts," Paz said.

Paz added that the WFDB and its members have a cast-iron rule that rough diamonds can only be traded when KP certificates accompany them.

"Any bourse member who trades in rough diamonds without KP certification is liable for expulsion from his bourse, which in all practical terms means the exclusion from the entire diamond business community," Paz said.

The warning issued by the WFDB does not pertain to diamonds mined at the Murowa deposits in Zimbabwe since the production from this source is in compliance with the KP.

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Industry calling for swift action on Zimbabwe

Jewelers of America is calling on the Kimberley Process to fully and quickly implement a work plan to address the serious concerns surrounding Zimbabwe's non-compliance with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, the system designed to keep conflict diamonds out of the international trade, and the reported human rights abuses in the Marange diamond fields. Read More

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