Mark Weissenberger, Diamond Editor

OCTOBER 11, 2001 - Washington, D.C. -- Two significant members of the diamond industry testified before the House Ways and Means Committee's Subcommittee on Trade, regarding the essential need for passage of the Clean Diamonds Trade Act.

Matt Runci, president and CEO of Jewelers of America and executive director of the World Diamond Council (WDC), and Cecilia Gardner, executive director of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee and general counsel for the WDC, both appealed to members of the committee for swift passage of House of Representatives bill (H.R. 2722) and its Senate companion (S. 1084) to eliminate the importation of conflict diamonds into the United States from culpable African nations.

"Halting this insidious traffic also serves the U.S. foreign policy goal of encouraging stability and economic progress in developing African nations," Runci said. "This legislation is both sound and necessary for the success of our campaign to rid the world of conflict diamonds." Speaking in reference to those countries and organizations that support the need for an international monitoring system, which would further choke off the trade of conflict diamonds, Gardner said, "The Clean Diamonds Trade Act is totally consistent with the principles that have been accepted. While these points of agreement represent progress, the picture is still incomplete. What is missing is effective implementation of these excellent goals."

With the congressional session winding down and the focus shifted heavily on anti-terrorism legislation, time is running out for the passage of these bipartisan measures.