Nicky Oppenheimer, the Chairman of the De Beers Group, will be honored at the Gala Dinner of the World Diamond Council on May 14, 2012, during its 8th Annual Meeting in Vicenza, Italy, in recognition of his considerable contribution to the industry's effort to eradicate the trade in conflict diamonds.

"It is difficult to imagine where we would be today were it not for the role played by Nicky Oppenheimer and De Beers right from the very birth of our organization," said Eli Izhakoff, President of the World Diamond Council. "Not only was he among the first industry leaders who understood and appreciated the implications of the conflict diamond trade, and consequently sounded the rallying cry, but over the years he has been one of our most important and enthusiastic supporters, and has participated in numerous WDC meetings. He was a staunch advocate of the Kimberley Process from the beginning."

"As beneficiaries of what the World Diamond Council has managed to achieve, and as a key participant in the Kimberley Process, our industry is indebted to the leadership and support provided by Nicky and De Beers. It will be a privilege to be able to express that to him in person in Vicenza," Mr. Izhakoff added.

WDC Annual Meetings are the official venues at which gathers the membership of the World Diamond Council, which is the body established in 2000 with the purpose of representing the international diamond and jewelry sectors in the campaign to eliminate the trade in conflict diamonds.

To guarantee a place at the 8th Annual Meeting of the World Diamond Council in Vicenza, participants are invited to register via a dedicated website at http://meeting2012.worlddiamondcouncil.org