The government of Azerbaijan has suspended consideration of about $3.8 billion in potential investment projects in Mexico because Mexico City authorities responded to public pressure and removed a statue of the late leader of the former Soviet republic, Haydar Aliyev, the Associated Press reported last week.
Oil-rich Azerbaijan paid $5 million to beautify the Mexico City park where Aliyev’s statue was erected, but some city residents objected over his poor record on human rights and democracy. City officials carted the statue of the former Communist Party boss off to storage in January.
Azerbaijan’s embassy confirmed Thursday that Ambassador Ilgar Mukhtarov has said investment projects in various fields are frozen because of the statue’s removal. The plans apparently included some potential projects in Mexico’s energy sector.
