India asks time to investigate gold development reports

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Feb 18 2005

Baku, February 17, AssA-Irada — On Thursday, the Indian government
started investigating whether or not any Indian company is involved
in developing gold deposits in the Azerbaijani regions occupied
by Armenia.

The Indian ambassador in Baku acknowledged earlier that Indian
companies are operating in Kalbajar District of Azerbaijan, which is
under Armenia’s occupation.

The Azerbaijani ambassador to India Tamerlan Garayev told the
Azerbaijani TV channels that the Indian foreign minister has requested
official Baku some time to clarify the issue. “If any Indian company
is working in the occupied lands, serious measures will be taken
against it,” Ambassador Garayev said.*