On May 22, at 10.00, a final press conference on the results of the World CIBJO Congress, for the first time held in Moscow through May 17-21, on the invitation of “The Guild of Jewellers of Russia”, took place in the press center of ITAR TASS.

The journalists’ questions were answered by:  CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri, Head of Russian State Depository for Precious Metals and Gems Andrey Yurin, Chairman of the Association “The Guild of Jewellers of Russia” Gagik Gevorkyan, President of the National Fund of Development of Jewellery Art, an executive secretary of CIBJO Congress in Moscow Galina Ananyina, Head of Chair of Technologies of Art Processing of Materials of Moscow State Mining University Evgeny Melnikov.

“I can say that at this Congress, in the process of work we have achieved more than originally intended”, summarized the business results of the Congress Mr. Cavalieri. “We have talked about interaction of market players with regard to fair trade, about cooperation of committees on organization of exhibitions, have come to the definition of concepts, which are now universal. It concerns both diamonds and coloured stones. After 2 years of incredibly hard work, we have finally agreed on and adopted a universal system of classification of pearls. We have also discussed a number of issues on social responsibility of business, the interaction between retailers and manufacturers, on standards in ethics in the mining areas.”
Gaetano Cavalieri highly appreciated the dynamics of development of the Russian jewellery industry and the country as a whole.

“For the first time I came to your country in the times of the USSR and since then has visited it more than once”, he said. “I see a lot of achievements turned into reality by the leaders of this country. Certainly, the achievements in the jewellery industry should also be mentioned. In the RF Finance Minister’s speech we saw a lot of opportunities for negotiations with CIBJO. I am glad that the Russian leadership shares CIBJO’s opinion on the need of changing the country’s legislation.”

A lot of words of gratitude were addressed to the Russian partners of the Congress.

“Russia is an amazing and hospitable host country. According to our rules, the country has to submit an application to host the Congress. And if the Russian Federation applies once again, we will gladly accept it, approve and hold one more Congress in your country”, stated CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri.

In his speech, Head of Russian State Depository for Precious Metals and Gems Andrey Yurin stressed, “I want to thank Mr. Gaetano for accepting the offer of the Chairman of “The Guild of Jewellers of Russia” to hold the Congress in Russia, and Mr. Gevorkyan for making this offer to CIBJO management, having performed the Russian Jewellers' Guild’s mission – to work with international jewellers’ associations all over the world. And the fact that the industry’s experts, who elaborate regulations in this industry, gathered together and worked actively in Moscow, is, certainly, a great achievement  of  cooperative labour of both “The Guild of Jewellers of Russia” and CIBJO. We showed jewellery Russia’s possibilities to the international community; on the other hand, our jewellers had a chance to communicate with the leaders of jewellery associations of different countries. If to sum up CIBJO’s work, I should say, it is just the beginning of a great work that is opening between the Russian Federation and CIBJO for the improvement of the world jewellery industry.”

“What we have seen in Moscow this week is really a historical event for our industry”, noted Head of Chair of Technologies of Art Processing of Materials of Moscow State Mining University Evgeny Melnikov.” We have a new incentive to work, in particular, on the development of professional terminology. CIBJO participants fight for the culture of stone processing and culture as a whole, and thus they educate the society.”

According to specified data of President of the National Fund of Development of Jewellery Art Galina Ananyina, who was an executive secretary of CIBJO Congress in Moscow, a foreign delegation of 150 people (113 delegates, the rest are accompanying persons) participated in the Congress. From the Russian side the number of participants of the Congress was 160. “We have seen such business style that is a great example of management and efficient work for our community”, said Galina Ananyina. “Finance Minister’s presence at the plenary meeting, his report, everything says of the support of our jewellery community, the recognition of the Congress, the importance of our common goals.”

In his turn, Chairman of the Council of the Association “The Guild of Jewellers of Russia” Gagik Gevorkyan thanked the CIBJO leadership, representatives of state authorities, jewellery community and news media for participation in the Congress and reminded of his own initiatives voiced during the Congress. The first was a proposal to establish World Jeweller’s Day, which would be approved and officially registered in UNESCO. The second proposal concerned the idea of establishing CIBJO International Jewellery Award, some kind of “Jewellery Oscar”. Both proposals were approved by the audience, and media personnel promised to support them.

Speaking about the Jewellery Congress and its significance for strengthening of international relations, Gagik Gevorkyan pointed out that it is important not only from a business point of view, “I am very glad that CIBJO carries out different missions. First of all, certainly, it concerns the development of the jewellery market, but at the same time it is a bridge between peoples. In my opinion, this is the most important component of the organization’s activities. Those who visited Russia within CIBJO could be convinced that it is a beautiful and kind country and an excellent platform for both recreation and business. A lot of them would like to return here once again. Thus, as it seems to me, we have achieved very important goals.” 

Mr. Cavalieri supported Mr. Gevorkyan,

“I simply cannot find those words of gratitude to express everything, that we, participants of the CIBJO Congress feel and what we will remember forever. We feel friendship, brotherhood and hospitality. I do not simply feel here at home, here I am at home, and I want to emphasize that.”

Delegations from 23 countries, including the USA, Canada, Brazil, Israel and others, visited Moscow. The jewellers had a number of conferences and meetings, devoted to working out decisions on the most important issues and problems of the world jewellery business and the market of precious metals and stones.

During the Congress an awarding ceremony of the winners of the jewellery Contest of Russian State Depository for Precious Metals and Gems “Russia XXI Century” took place in the exhibition hall of “The Guild of Jewellers of Russia”. Thus, the foreign delegates had a unique opportunity to see masterpieces of Russia’s modern jewellery art with their own eyes.

A movie and an illustrated printed publication will be produced following the results of the Congress in Moscow. The next congress will be held in Brazil since May 17, 2015.