ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, July 26, 1990                   TAG: 9007260532
SECTION: MISCELLANEOUS                    PAGE: A/10   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: LONDON                                LENGTH: Short

DEBEERS SIGNS PACT FOR SOVIET DIAMONDS

The Soviet Union will get more badly needed foreign hard currency by selling its rough diamonds exclusively through the South African giant De Beers in a five-year multibillion-dollar agreement.

The company is advancing the Soviets $1 billion against future diamond sales, said officials who announced the agreement on Wednesday.

The Soviet Union had refused to deal directly with the South African company because of apartheid, but now is willing to openly do business with De Beers' new Swiss arm, De Beers Centenary AG.

-Associated Press 


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