Putin Claims De Beers Wants Closer Cooperation With Russia
October 31, 26
(IDEX Online) - Russian president Vladimir Putin claims De Beers wants closer cooperation with Russia.
He made the statement at the third Russia-Africa summit, on October 28, according to TASS, Russia's state-owned news agency, although there has been no comment or confirmation from the diamond company or its parent, Anglo American.
"De Beers is apparently the main competitor" of Russian diamond miner Alrosa, Putin said. "On the other part, they want more and more to cooperate with Russia because problems are created for them there, in the Western world, they endeavor to establish relations with Russia, with our company."
He added: "We are for this, we only welcome such cooperation."
Putin did not provide details of what form the proposed cooperation might take, or whether any discussions had taken place.
He also said Western sanctions against Russian diamonds and their producers were hindering cooperation with India and causing significant harm to its diamond-processing industry. "But we are still finding ways to cooperate," Putin said.
There has been no public response from De Beers or Anglo American. Nor has the claim about De Beers' intentions been independently corroborated by Western media or other independent sources.
The report has been carried by other Russian news outlets, including RIA Novosti, Interfax and Finmarket, as well as aggregators reproducing the original TASS dispatch.