WDC's new board members are Johan Dippenaar, Stephane Fischler, Lisu Lionel Hadebe, Vinod Hayagriv, Reuven Kaufman, Dilip Mehta, Yair Sahar and Leonid Tolpezhnikov. Andrew Bone and Stephane Fischler were appointed vice presidents.

 

In addition to forming a steering committee headed by Bone to examine the restructuring of WDC, the body representing the diamond industry in the Kimberley Process also expressed "strong support" for the reform of the KP and for its Chair's expanded definition for conflict diamonds.

 

WDC chairman Eli Izhakoff said the establishment of a permanent Administrative Support Mechanism, the implementation of a more rigorous peer review system and improved information exchange with international law enforcement agencies are "urgently" needed.

 

"The board affirmed the resolution of the WDC General Assembly in Vicenza that the proposal made by KP Chair Ambassador Gillian Milovanovic, according to which the term conflict diamonds would be amended to cover 'rough diamonds used to finance, or otherwise directly related to, armed conflict or other situations of violence,' is a good basis for moving forward the discussion on an expanded definition," Izhakoff said.

 

The officers and directors of the World Diamond Council are as follows:

 

OFFICERS

Eli Izhakoff, President

Avi Paz, First Vice President

Ernest Blom, Vice President

Andrew Bone, Vice President

Stephane Fischler, Vice President

Moti Ganz, Vice President

Shmuel Schnitzer, Vice President

Gaetano Cavalieri, Treasurer & CFO

Udi Sheintal, Secretary General

 

DIRECTORS

Roberto Coin

Johan Dippenaar

Ari Epstein

Lisu Lionel Hadebe

Clive Hopwood

Vinod Hayagriv

Mark Jenkins

Reuven Kaufman

Jean Marc Lieberherr

Dilip Mehta

Vasant Mehta

Willie Roti

Yair Sahar

Leonid Tolpezhnikov

Ronnie VanderLinden