The World Diamond Council (WDC) announced last month that its fifth annual meeting will be held at the David Citadel Hotel on May 9 and 10th in Jerusalem, Israel hosted by the Israeli Diamond Industry.
The meeting will focus on how the industry, governments and civil society groups can and need to work together to focus the success of the Kimberley Process to affect real change for all members of the diamond industry, specifically within the alluvial sector, which is the most susceptible to conflict. In addition, the meeting will review the past success of the education campaign of ‘06, in the hopes that together, all interested parties can work to refine the core message for 2007.
WDC: It is our responsibility and obligation to continue the success of the Kimberley Process
In a statement the WDC wrote, “In 2006, the issue of conflict diamonds received global attention and the diamond industry had a unique advantage of having addressed this issue seven years ago with the creation and implementation of the Kimberley Process. However, it is our responsibility and obligation to not only continue the success of the Kimberley Process, whereby 99.8% of the world’s diamonds are from conflict-free sources, but to also move the dialogue forward to address the issues surrounding conflict, such as working conditions and alluvial mining.”
Meeting organizers noted that this year’s speakers are some of the most influential in the diamond industry, whose continued support moves the industry ahead in the eradication of conflict diamonds.
WDC's Scheduled Speakers:
Gareth Penny, Managing Director, De Beers
Sergey Vibornov, President, Alrosa
Lev Leviev, Chairman, Leviev Group of Companies
Ernie Blom, President, World Federation of Diamond Bourses
Jeff Fischer, President, International Diamond Manufactuers Association
Gaetano Cavalieri, President, World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO)
Israel's Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres will be the guest speaker at the WDC meeting's opening reception. Israel's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor Eli Yishai will
open the official sessions. Former Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition Benjamin Netanyahu will address the Gala Dinner.
“We are honored to have such a distinguished group of individuals join the WDC for our fifth annual meeting. It is my hope that this year’s meeting will solidify the need for us to focus our efforts and work together. We hope to come out of the two day conference with some tangible results and specific ways that all of us, industry, government and civil society can make a difference” said Eli Izhakoff, Chairman of the World Diamond Council.
If you would like to register to attend the fifth annual World Diamond Council meeting, please log on to www.5-wdcmeeting.com to register.
For more information on the World Diamond Council, please visit the WDC website or the diamondfacts website.
