AZERBAIJAN PROTESTS RUSSIAN COMPANY’S VENTURE INTO NAGORNO-KARABAKH

The Messenger
Aug 31 2007
Georgia

The Russian company Alrosa is ready to mine gold in Armenia, reports
the news agency Regnum, after Russian President Vladimir Putin paved
the way for the company by meeting with his Armenian counterpart.

Azerbaijan has not greeted the news warmly. Baku is worried the
Russian company will mine in disputed Nagorno-Karabakh, over which
Armenian and Azerbaijan fought a protracted and bloody war.

According to Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources,
30 countries have invested more than USD 35 million in projects in
Nagorno-Karabakh, where there are 155 mines, including five gold
mines and two copper mines.