WFDB President calls on bourse members to hold meetings

World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) President Avi Paz has stressed on the need for each bourse member to hold a general assembly which will discuss ways individual bourses can be vigilant about banning trade in conflict diamonds and overall bringing to light ways to protect the reputation of the WFDB-affiliated diamond bourses and their members.

"I would ask you not to put this off too long," Paz said in a letter to members. "We have to uphold our commitment to assure that no diamonds originating in conflict regions enter the trade”. Therefore, it is important that each individual diamantaire who holds bourse membership is completely up to speed as to the requirements, rules and regulations concerning the ban on trading in diamonds originating in areas and regions of conflict."

Paz recommended the management of individual bourses should prepare presentations in their native language on the Kimberley Process Certification Process (KPCS), absolute ban on conflict diamonds as expressed in the rules and regulation of the WFDB, provide information on the absolute ban on trading in conflict diamonds as laid out in the rules and regulations of each individual bourse, and, if possible, a quick refresher on the rules and regulations of diamond imports and exports in each country.

The President recommended various forms of media need to be applied to reach all bourse members and to ensure the distribution of the information needed at the meetings.