[meteorite-list] Email from Serge & Comet Meteorite Shop

From: Meteoriteshow <meteoriteshow_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Jun 29 02:29:35 2006
Message-ID: <00db01c69b45$5bd67d70$0a00a8c0_at_IBM>

Hi Serge, Norbert and List,

I do not know whether Serge can read the List posts at the moment but if it is so, I want first of all to wish you that the
situation in Russia will improve as soon as possible for you and your friends. I really know what you mean when you say 'not rich'
as dealing with such stones does not enrich most of meteorite dealers! It is more a passion and nothing compared to gold, gas and so
on!!!
I was quite disapointed not to see you again in Ensisheim and Ste Marie, as it is one of the best places in Europe where we can all
meet each other once in a year and I sincerely hope that we will all be together again next year. Meteorite hunting has already
become a real problem because it is getting harder and harder to find places where it is not forbidden; what about attending shows
now?!
All the best and see you next year Serge! And thank you to Norbert for having forwarded your post to the List.
Kind regards

Frederic Beroud
http://www.meteoriteshow.com
IMCA member # 2491 (http://www.imca.cc/)

----- Original Message -----
From: "Norbert Classen" <trifid_at_timewarp.de>
To: "meteorite-list" <meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 29, 2006 12:09 AM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Email from Serge & Comet Meteorite Shop


> Dear List Members,
>
> Not long ago, there has been some discussion on this list about the people
> of Comet Meteorite Shop, Russian dealers, etc., and some rumors even had it
> that "we won't see the Russians again at future shows".
>
> As you can see from the recent Ensisheim show reports, these rumors are not
> true as there was a delegation of the Comet Meteorite Shop people at the
> Ensisheim show, and at the St. Marie aux Mines shows. As always, they had a
> great selection of meteorites from Dhofar, and other locations.
>
> Anyway, the Comet Meteorite Shop people have been encountering problems, and
> things haven't completely solved until now. So Serge Afanasiev asked me to
> forward an explanation to the list so that you all get a better idea of
> what's been going on in Russia, and what the problems are actually all
> about. Please find Serge's post below.
>
> All the best,
> Norbert Classen
>
> PS: Since Serge isn't on the list, anymore, I will also forward your replies
> to him.
>
> --------------------------------------
>
> Dear List,
>
> In late October 2005, me and my friends were going to the Munich show with a
> lot of stuff. We were intending to go by car through Finland - we had plans
> to visit the Muonionalusta site before travelling to Germany as we did prior
> to the French shows in June 2005. We were stopped at the Russian-Finnish
> border from our side. Prior to that we traveled a lot without encountering
> any problems - we just said that we were traveling with stones and that was
> enough. This time (we've noticed that later) our KGB was following us. We do
> not know yet for whom it was so interesting to catch us, but that is the
> fact. They said that this is a crime and arrested us.
> After 2 days they let us free, but now I and one of my friends can't go out
> of Russia.
> It seems that it is some government idea to stop mineral business in Russia,
> I do not know. I can't put a spot on somebody of Russian stone people as a
> competitor who can be so angry for example personally with me. Nonsense. It
> is not so much real competition here in Russia. I know 99% of all dealers.
> The process is not finished yet. They press us very much. Everybody of the
> mineral, fossil and meteorite people from Russia are very afraid to ship or
> carry some stony goods abroad. All are waiting for the final outcome of our
> situation. I know something about dino-eggs from China and the meteorite
> situation in Australia. Maybe our situation is in line with that. But
> certainly not that easy.
> I really do not know what will happen later. But if they really will close
> the Russian border for stones - that'll be a big problem for mineral
> business in general, and not only for us Russians. Ok, I think that the
> details about spending a lot of time in KGB and with lawyers isn't of much
> interest to you, but just imagine that this is what we are dealing with now
> and what we are thinking about most of the time.
> It is actually strange that a small group of people (really not rich) is of
> interest to the State. Our stones are not gold, not diamonds, not oil or
> gas, nothing of strategic importance - you know what I mean. That's all for
> now.
> All the best, Serge
>
>
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Received on Thu 29 Jun 2006 02:29:21 AM PDT