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RAPAPORT... Eli Izhakoff, the president of the World Diamond Council, offered his support, without reservations, to the Kimberley Process' decision to temporarily suspend the Central African Republic (CAR). "This is a tough but appropriate measure that will defend both the integrity of the diamond pipeline and, also, ultimately the wellbeing of the people of the Central African Republic," Izhakoff said. "It is a procedure which has shown itself to be effective in the past. I call on all members of the industry to be vigilant and take all necessary measures to ensure that, until further notice from the Kimberley Process, that no rough diamonds from the CAR are handled and or traded." Welile Nhlapo, the 2013 chair of the Kimberley Process, confirmed that due diligence, which included issuing a vigilance notice to CAR in March and a vote by Kimberely Process members, resulted in the country's immediate suspension. The decision and the political situation in CAR will be reviewed by the Kimberley Process working group on monitoring, in consultation with other working bodies, at the upcoming intersessional meeting in South Africa on June 4 to 7.
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