WFDB president Avi Paz addressed the 7th Annual Meeting World Diamond Council, reiterating the importance of the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme for the industry’s future growth, while calling for consolidated efforts from all stakeholders to ensure that KP is strong, fair and effective.

He reiterated WFDB’s commitment in maintaining complete transparency in the rough diamond supply pipeline, and as such towards the KP, saying, “I would like use this opportunity to stress once again that the WFDB is fully committed to the KP and remind us all that, at the end of the day, the WFDB is the organisation within the industry that has the ability to enforce the KP resolutions.”

On the issue of the impasse over Zimbabwe, Paz said, “At the moment it is still not clear if an agreement was achieved but we are working very hard on it,” while thanking the KP chair Mr. Boaz Hirsch, the Zimbabwe government representatives, NGOs and industry members and stakeholders for their efforts.

He also expressed concern over the KP not accepting the special monitor report on Zimbabwe, and the current deadlock since it has negative repercussions not only for diamantaires, but also for millions in the diamond producing and manufacturing countries whose welfare is tied to the industry.

He further added, “The NGO's waving slogans about the return of the conflict diamonds is not a responsible thing to do and I call them to refrain from doing so.”