The World Federation of Diamond Bourses is having its biennial President’s Meeting in violence-plagued Istanbul this week—at the same time its sister group, the International Diamond Manufacturers Association, has decided to stay away.

The IDMA said that both the violence and a lack of interest played a role.

"While security concerns may have been part of their reasons not to do so, the level of registration by IDMA members was nothing but embarrassing,” said an organization email. “It became painfully clear to the IDMA leadership that without a quorum of members present, the meeting itself would become a futile exercise.”

Meanwhile, at the WFDB meeting, that group signed a cooperation agreement with CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation.

While the WFDB and CIBJO will both continue to maintain full independence, they will aim to coordinate positions in the areas of gemological standards and nomenclature; standards and methods of disclosing of treated, enhanced, synthetic and simulated diamonds and gemstones; and corporate social responsibility, good governance, and sustainability, including the Kimberley Process.