Medvedev: foreign investors don't see Caucasus "problematic zone"

Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev said that foreign investors do not perceive the North Caucasus to be a problematic zone and are ready to invest in the development of the region’s tourism cluster. On Friday, Medvedev had a working meeting with his envoy to the North Caucasus Federal District Alexander Khloponin. “I hope that all investment initiatives will be implemented in reality,” he said. “I am happy that our foreign counterparts trust our ideas and offers, as it is clear that for a long time the North Caucasus has been considered by foreigners as a problematic zone, which included problems with security,” Medvedev said. “If the foreign counterparts are investing in that region, this means that they trust the idea of organising modern tourism zones.” Medvedev stressed that the programme of organizing  tourism clusters in the North Caucasus “should be implemented at the highest level.” “Russia’s South, and the North Caucasus are not limited by Sochi, though it is a major resort and the Winter Olympic Games will be organized there,” the president said. “We have a lot of other quite interesting locations, in which both money and effort may be invested.”