Ambassador: Russia to help CAR to legalize diamond exports

MOSCOW, Feb 3 (PRIME) -- Russia is ready to help the Central African Republic (C.A.R.) to legalize exports of diamonds, Ambassador Alexander Bikantov told PRIME in an interview released on Friday.

"The question of diamond exports legalization is crucial for the economic development of the C.A.R., one of the poorest countries in the world,” Bikantov said.

“Income from the diamond sales will allow Bangui to solve the current social and financial problems."

Diamond exports from the country are embargoed in accordance with the Kimberley Process, qualifying diamonds in the republic as 'conflict diamonds'.

According to Bikantov, some large market players are interested in the republic not raising its share in order to boost the market share of artificial diamonds.

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