YELTSIN SIGNS DECREE ON EXPORT OF DIAMONDS.

Russian president Boris Yeltsin has signed a long-awaited decree allowing Russia’s largest producer of uncut diamonds, Almazy Rossii-Sakha (ALROSA), based in the Republic of Sakha, to continue its cooperation with the De Beers Central Selling Organization (CSO). ALROSA has been selling its diamonds to the CSO since 1995 on the basis of an interim understanding. Yeltsin’s decree opens the way for the signing of a new trade agreement between ALROSA and CSO. (Itar-Tass, July 21)

More Non-Combat Deaths in Russian Army.