Conflict diamonds

A recent Times article quoted a human-rights advocate as wondering why the diamond industry was conducting a public-education campaign about conflict diamonds [“Crystallizing Opinion,” by Elizabeth Snead, Oct. 10].

The answer is simple. When it comes to conflict diamonds, we have a lot to be proud of. Instead of just wringing our hands over the problem, we did something about it.

Starting in 2000, we began working with the United Nations, individual governments and nongovernmental organizations to create what is called the Kimberley Process Certification System. Formally adopted in 2003, the Kimberley Process certifies the movement of rough diamonds across international borders. Rough diamonds not certified as conflict-free cannot be exported or imported by any participating country -- and today there are 69 of them, accounting for more than 99% of world production. As a result, according to such authoritative third parties as Global Witness and both the U.S. and Canadian governments, the flow of conflict diamonds has been cut to less than 1%.

Considering that as recently as 2001 conflict diamonds accounted for as much as 4% of world sales, this represents a remarkable achievement. Now clearly, even one conflict diamond is one too many, but we shouldn’t let the recognition that work remains to be done blind us to the progress we’ve made.

For Africa today, diamonds are part of the solution, not part of the problem. The jobs, schools, hospitals and revenue they provide are vital to the prosperity of countries like Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Tanzania. And they hold out the hope of a better future for recovering nations like Sierra Leone and Liberia.

So, really, if you care about Africa, the question you should be asking about our education program isn’t “Why are you doing this?” but “How can I help?”

ELI IZHAKOFF

New York

Izhakoff is chairman of the World Diamond Council.