FW: [meteorite-list] Email from Serge Comet Meteorite Shop
Dear List Members, Thanks for all your kind replies on Serge's post, and my email - I will forward all your posts to Serge, ASAP. Zelimir Gabelica, the organizer of the Ensisheim show, also sent me a reply, and since he's not able to post directly to the list, he asked me to forward it to you. See his email, below. Best, Norbert Classen Hi Norbert and List, Norbert, thanks for this very important info. Most of us in Ensisheim were wondering indeed what happened with Serge (our current guest) this year but no one was sure whether it was wise to talk more in depth about that sad event (Serge's problems in his country). As this info is now more official (through your post further rumors), here are some further comments from my side. As show organizer and personal friend of Serge, I was contacted in due time by him (through some exotic mail on which he was free to write) and told about his big problems in Russia and his impossibility to be with us again this year. His friends Dmitrij (Dima) Kachalin + wife, Slavomir (Slava) Skorniakov, perhaps some other, were in the same situation and could not come either. However Serge proposed that Comet Meteorite Shop is again represented in Ensisheim in 2006 and that his table is held by another friend of him, Dmitrij (Dima) Siderenko + a colleague. Dima friend (can't remember exactly his name for now) showed up in Ensisheim on Friday as we agreed, and receptioned the 2 big parcels of about 25 kg each, obviously full of meteorites, sent earlier to me by Serge co from a certain country that obviously was not Russia. All went well, Dima friend had a good time and sold well many of their superb meteorites (mostly from Oman). Dima's smile and kindness were unanimoisly appreciated (see his photo on Peter Marmet's site, Ensisheim 2006 report, part 1, picture entitled Anne Black and a russian meteorite dealer, taken during the Friday party). I did not want to bother Dima more about Serge's problems, believing that they decided it was wiser to remain silent about a situation that, if extensively debated, could potentially do some more harm to Serge. I met again Dima and 2 other of his friends from Russia at Ste Marie e few days later and learned a little more about the situation in Russia, roughly the same as explained by Norbert here. The good news, that duly confirms that the rumor we won't see the Russians again at future shows isn't true, is that all of Serge's freinds are strongly convinced that Serge will re-appear soon again on the meteorite scene, among us, perhaps in Munich, most probably in 2007 (Tucson?). Could this new rumor become true! At least, we now have another appreciated partner, Dima Siderenko, within the CMS friendly team. Norbert, I still have problems to send my posts to the List so please send a copy of this mail both to Serge and List. Thank you and my best wishes to all, Zelimir Prof. Zelimir Gabelica Université de Haute Alsace ENSCMu, Lab. GSEC, 3, Rue A. Werner, F-68093 Mulhouse Cedex, France Tel: +33 (0)3 89 33 68 94 Fax: +33 (0)3 89 33 68 15 __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Email from Serge Comet Meteorite Shop
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 [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: meteorite-list meteorite-list@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 __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Email from Serge Comet Meteorite Shop
The next to have problems its moroccans from August of this year after Casablanca Meeting. Matteo --- Meteoriteshow [EMAIL PROTECTED] ha scritto: 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 [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: meteorite-list meteorite-list@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 __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Meteorite-list mailing list
Re: [meteorite-list] Email from Serge Comet Meteorite Shop
It is interesting Matteo that you brought up the Casablanca meeting. Well, at least the gold rush is over in Northwest Africa. We will have to see if it is decided that new laws governing the export of meteorites found mostly in the surrounding countries and not in Morocco itself are needed. It seems by regulating them now that they have missed the boat. Collectors should be thankful that they once had the opportunity to add so many meteorites to their collections in such a short time, the greatest amount in history. One way or another this era is destined to end, maybe this August! It will be interesting to hear what is proposed at the August meeting in Casablanca, Morocco. We should watch the players closely and critique those harshly this time in public if what is proposed only serves to upset the balance or is too outrageously restrictive. We do not want these types of misinformed individuals (false do-gooders) adding more restrictions to our avocation. We have lost a lot of searchable ground the last decade with more countries sure to follow if nobody represents the collecting community this time. Take Care, Adam - Original Message - From: M come Meteorite Meteorites [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Meteoriteshow [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; meteorite-list meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 11:43 PM Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Email from Serge Comet Meteorite Shop The next to have problems its moroccans from August of this year after Casablanca Meeting. Matteo --- Meteoriteshow [EMAIL PROTECTED] ha scritto: 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 [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: meteorite-list meteorite-list@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
[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 __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Email from Serge Comet Meteorite Shop
Wow Norbert, this is a sad state of events isn't it. I seem to remember a thread some time back about Brahin that might have been collected within the Chernobyl zone. I don't remember and did not follow the thread that closely. I wonder if this is an embarassment to the Russian gov? I would have to wonder about the keeping of homeland rarities like meteorites within borders much like Australia and Canada do now, but to keep someone in the dark completely about what they have done is very cheap and childish. In any case, it seems that our Russian friends are without any answers to the problem and the future is totally unknown. Mark Ferguson - Original Message - From: Norbert Classen [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: meteorite-list meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 6:09 PM 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 __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
AW: [meteorite-list] Email from Serge Comet Meteorite Shop
I'm sure Serge has the solidarity from most of the list members. I guess, we should increasingly buy his stuff, which he still has outside of Russia to help him over this difficult and unsatisfying situation. Buckleboo! Martin -Ursprüngliche Nachricht- Von: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Im Auftrag von Norbert Classen Gesendet: Donnerstag, 29. Juni 2006 00:09 An: meteorite-list Betreff: [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 __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list __ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
