ALROSA SUPPLIES 5,000 CARATS OF ROUGH DIAMONDS TO ARMENIA IN 2008

Interfax
Feb 9 2009
Russia

Russian diamond miner Alrosa shipped 5,000 carats of rough diamonds
to Armenia in 2008, Gagik Kocharian, a senior trade official at the
Armenian Economics Ministry, told Interfax.

Kocharian said the diamonds were supplied to five Armenian cutting
enterprises under agreements signed in 2007. The enterprises bought
the diamonds in September-October, 2008, he said.

"Alrosa specialists visited Armenia and assessed the capabilities of
other cutting plants last year. Alrosa’s list of partners lengthened
from five to 12 as a result," Kocharian said.

He said the Armenian plants were not cutting and polishing the gems
for Alrosa under tolling arrangements, but were selling the finished
product themselves.