NEW YORK - A coalition of industry associations and representatives recently met with top US State Department officials to urge a tough stance on diamond producers in Zimbabwe to ensure the country's allegedly conflict-ridden Marange area is being monitored in accordance with the Kimberley Process. According to a news release, the industry representatives want to see the US government, and the governments of other nations involved in the Kimberley Process (KP), implement a “joint work plan” aimed at bringing Zimbabwe into full compliance with the process.
Those involved in the KP, which is designed to stem the flow of conflict diamonds worldwide, developed a plan at their last meeting in Namibia, which addressed issues of non-compliance and human rights abuses reportedly taking place in Zimbabwe’s diamond-producing Marange district.
Among other provisions, the plan dictates that diamond exports from the Marange area be fully examined for compliance by a designated KP monitor. Exports from the area are banned until that KP monitor is in place.
The industry coalition that met with State Department officials on Jan. 21 included representatives from the Diamond Manufacturers and Importers Association of America (DMIA), Jewelers of America (JA), the Diamond Dealers Club of New York, the World Diamond Council, the United States Kimberley Process Authority, the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) and the Jewelers Vigilance Committee.
Participating in the meeting via telephone were Martin Rapaport, Rapaport Group chairman, and Chicago independent retailer Brian Leber, of Leber Jeweler, the release states. Non-jewelry industry groups in attendance included Global Witness, Human Rights Watch, World Vision, the Enough Project and others. In addition, the World Diamond Council renewed its call today for members of the industry to redouble their efforts to ensure that no diamonds from Marange diamond fields are traded until the Kimberley Process monitor is in place and is actively controlling exports from the area.
The industry coalition also emphasized its interest in reforming the KP by establishing a permanent secretariat and changing the decision-making processes to make them more efficient, according to the release. Under the current system, the chairmanship of the KP changes hands on an annual basis, and all of the countries involved in the KP need to be in unanimous agreement before any action can be taken.
“A strong KP is essential to a healthy diamond industry,” DMIA President Ronald Friedman said in the release. “It is so important that KP mechanisms are seen to be performing well and addressing challenges in an efficient and effective manner.”
Matt Runci, president and chief executive officer of JA and chairman of the board of RJC, added that the retail sector is committed to strong KP but the strength of the process must be clear to consumers. “Continuing allegations of human rights violations in diamond-producing regions cannot be countenanced by the retail community,” he said.
Post published in: News