N e w s

World diamond sector is entering "post conflict period" - this is the opinion of High Diamond Council executive director Peter Meus. He emphasizes that all the countries should carry out the Kimberley's agreement signed in May by the end of the year. This agreement is the answer of the "conflict diamonds" problem.

However, there are new problems in the sector. De Beers has lost its position of the world diamond monopolist. New players such as "Rio Tinto" and "Billiton" have appeared. The market has begun to react to the diamonds influx expected from new deposits in Canada - this country is likely to leave behind Russia and Botswana in diamond mining. These facts along with many others will determine the development of diamond sector in the near future.

Among the participants of the "Diamond week" in Antwerp there were Festus Mogae, the President of Botswana, one of the world diamond mining leaders, Nicolas Openheimer, the Chairman of the board of De Beers Company, Vladimir Calitin, the President of JSC "ALROSA", etc.

The agreement on cooperation was signed between the High Diamond Council and the Russian diamond sector representatives.