The World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) President Avi Paz called on the members of the 28 bourses affiliated to the WFDB to be aware about the use of conflict diamonds. His statement was in response to the numerous reports of violations of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme in Zimbabwe. Paz said, "The WFDB and its membership worldwide are committed to do all it can to prevent conflict diamonds from Zimbabwe or from any other source for that matter to be traded by our members.

The WFDB noted that its warning not to trade in conflict diamonds from Zimbabwe pertains in particular to diamonds originating from the Marange deposits. Comprehensive data, descriptions and photographs of these rough diamonds mined at the Marange deposits have been widely circulated by the Kimberley Process working group of diamond experts, thus making identification of these illicit diamonds easier.

The warning issued by the WFDB does not pertain to diamonds mined at the Murowa deposits since the production from this source is in compliance with the Kimberly Process. However, the WFDB wishes to reiterate that rough diamonds can only be traded when they are accompanied by KP certificates. "Any bourse member who trades in rough diamonds without KP certification is liable for expulsion from his bourse, which in all practical terms means the exclusion from the entire diamond business community," WFDB President Avi Paz declared.

He further added that, "As founding members of the World Diamond Council and as signatories to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), it is our duty to remind not only our own members but all those who operate in the diamond industry and trade of the devastating impact of conflicts fuelled by the trade in conflict diamonds on the peace, safety and security of people in affected countries, and the systematic and gross human rights violations that have been perpetrated in such conflicts.” The WFDB and its member bourses have a cast-iron rule that rough diamonds can only be traded when they are accompanied by KP certificates," Paz stated. "Any bourse member who trades in rough diamonds without KP certification is liable for expulsion from his bourse, which in all practical terms means the exclusion from the entire diamond business community," Paz concluded.