Maurice Tempelsman (background) watches Pres. Festus Mogae (foreground) deliver speech.

President Mogae, who has been campaigning for increased trade between Botswana and other nations the past three months, shared his message once again that diamonds have attributed to his country's economic growth in education, healthcare, and infrastructure at a time in which the AIDS pandemic continues.

He called upon consumers to support diamonds, characterizing that support as "a life or death choice for the citizens of Botswana."

President Mogae said that he recognizes the diversification of Botswana's economy is a necessary and inevitable next step in the country's continued advancement, which is the fundamental reason for pushing global trade across a multitude of industries. For now though, "we are critically dependent on the income we derive from diamonds today to drive the diversified economy we will need tomorrow," the president said.

Tempelsman added that Botswana's success is attributable to the fact that Botswana's democratic governance is rooted in it's traditions; that Botswana managed it's economy with steady consistency and for the benefit of its people through good times and bad; and that it has had extraordinarily wise and accountable leadership since independence.