|
The fifth annual meeting of the World Diamond Council opened last night with a festive reception at the David Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem. The auspicious event was attended by the meeting's participants and leaders of the world diamond industry.
Eli Izhakoff, Chairman of the WDC, welcomed the meeting's participants and thanked the Chairman of the IDI, Moti Ganz, for hosting the meeting. Izhakoff invited the participants to take part in the discussions in the morning and added: "We have nothing to hide. There are those who claim that our industry is not transparent – come and see for yourself just how transparent we are."
Avi Paz, President of the Diamond Exchange, also greeted the participants and noted that this is the first time that the event is being held in Jerusalem. He underscored the significant action that the world diamond industry has taken against the phenomenon of conflict diamonds and noted: "We have zero tolerance for conflict diamonds and those who deal in them."
After an impressive laser show against the background of the Old City of Jerusalem, IDI Managing Director Eli Avidar introduced Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres – the reception's guest of honor. Avidar described Peres as a man of vision, the architect of the peace process and a Nobel Prize laureate whose fingerprint is evident in every achievement throughout the State of Israel's history.
In his moving speech, Peres spoke of the paradox in Israel – between war, the unilateral disengagement, and the current aura of depression on the one hand, and its flourishing economy, which is one of the strongest in the world, on the other. Peres spoke of the amazing people in Israel who have brought about its global economic success.
"The world is pregnant with a new age," he exclaimed. "It is an era of technology and science, without physical boundaries." Peres stressed the power of the individual in the new global economy. He noted that the diamond industry serves as an example of the individual's ability to create new worlds and change them. "Every individual is a diamond and it is important to allow every person to achieve the diamond in his heart," he stated.
Peres completed his speech with the words, "Diamonds represent the hope that is in all of our hearts."
President of the GCAL gemological laboratories, Donald Palmieri, welcomed the participants and stated that his organization wholeheartedly supports the goals of the WDC.
After the reception, the guests set off on a breathtaking nocturnal tour of the Western Wall tunnels. |