antwerp diamond center belgium

Belgian Prime Minister Remains Opposed to Diamond Sanctions on Russia

While addressing delegates at the two-day Facets 2022 convention in Antwerp, Belgium’s prime minister Alexander De Croo reiterated his country’s opposition to sanctions on Russian diamonds. CEO of De Beers Bruce Cleaver and Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi were also among the speakers at the conference, IDEX Online reports. 

 

“For six centuries,” he said in his speech, “Antwerp has proven that it always manages to remain resilient and innovative in turbulent times. Antwerp always maintains a high level on a global level, so that the rest of the world follows suit.”

 

Tom Neys, spokesperson for the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), followed suit, saying: “The absence of sanctions has allowed the diamond trade to adapt to the new reality. It is through the prime minister’s support and steadfastness that we can come together today to discuss new solutions on sustainability, transparency and diamond tracking. With sanctions, we would be in a crisis mode today, instead we can look at the future.”

 

According to the report, De Croo has “repeatedly said his country would not block European Commission sanctions on the diamond trade, but has argued that would hurt Europe more than Russia.”

 

Underground diamond mining Russia
Credit: Alrosa

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