Oppenheimer to CIBJO Congress: Unite to sustain industry

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Oppenheimer to CIBJO Congress: Unite to sustain industry

March 12, 2007

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Cape Town, South Africa—In a speech delivered today to representatives of the international jewelry and gemstone trade who are attending the 2007 CIBJO Congress in Cape Town, South Africa, De Beers Chairman Nicky Oppenheimer spoke about members working together to deliver a responsible, sustainable and profitable global jewelry industry.

Oppenheimer specifically noted the Kimberley Process (KP), an extraordinary collaboration between the United Nations, 71 governments, civil society and the industry to eradicate the trade in conflict diamonds, as proof that partnerships work. In addition, he lauded the efforts of the World Diamond Council (WDC) in uniting the industry in a KP educational awareness and compliance program, particularly in light of the negative publicity surrounding the movie Blood Diamond.

He also noted, however, that the industry still has much work to do, and called for a reunited effort to secure and safeguard the business.

"I am most encouraged by the way the organized diamond industry, represented by many of its leaders here today, has united to establish a policy of zero tolerance for conflict diamonds and those who deal in them," Oppenheimer said. "Nonetheless, we are only as strong as the weakest link amongst us, and the whole supply chain— from the mines to the retail store—can be damaged irrevocably by the thoughtless or willful actions of individuals motivated solely by greed or personal advantage....We must not only work even closer with the relevant authorities to identify and report any wrongdoing, we must also ensure beyond any possibility of doubt that everything we—and others in the industry—do is absolutely proper and appropriate."

Oppenheimer said that turning a blind eye to so-called "traditional activities" by others on the grounds that "I'm not doing anything wrong" is simply not acceptable.

"The guy in the next office who operates in blatant disregard of the law and ignores the rules that govern our business is not a 'naughty colleague' or a 'rogue element' unconnected with the respectable trade, but your enemy. He has the ability to destroy your business and will do so, and disappear back into the shadows with his ill-gotten gains," Oppenheimer said.

Part of the renewed effort, according to Oppehnheimer, is to make sure to adhere to the System of Warranties, which is the industry's commitment to the KP, and to support the work of the WDC with action, not mere lip service. In addition, the industry should also support the initiatives of CIBJO, the Council for Responsible Jewellery Practices, the International Diamond Manufacturers' Association and the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, so that 100 percent of jewelry companies will be fully KP-compliant when non-governmental organizations conduct their annual survey around Valentine's Day next year.

Oppenheimer also discussed the Diamond Development Initiative (DDI), a program that's devoted to creating a model that will address the political, economic, social and developmental issues involved with embracing the activities of unregulated diamond mining into the legitimate diamond trade.

"I should like to invite and encourage CIBJO—and thus all of you—to become engaged in DDI," Oppenheimer said. "If we are not working proactively together to address problems that both affect our business and create real human suffering, we will—in that court of public opinion—be considered complicit and guilty by association."

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