Kremlin closely monitoring situation in Guinea, hopes it won't harm interests of Russian companies

MOSCOW. Sept 7 (Interfax) - The Kremlin is closely monitoring the situation in Guinea and hopes that the interests of Russian companies operating in the country will be protected in any case.

"We are closely observing what is happening in Guinea, and we would like the situation in Guinea to return to a lawful track as soon as possible," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"Of course, we expect the business interests of our entrepreneurs, our companies not to be harmed and to be guaranteed in any case," Peskov said.

The Kremlin is not considering options to provide government support to the Rusal aluminum company in connection with the developing instability in Guinea, but admits that the recent events in the West African country could adversely affect the global aluminum market, Dmitry Peskov said.

"This [coup in Guinea] is a new development. No options of support are being considered just yet," Peskov told reporters when asked whether the Russian state is planning to provide support to Rusal, a company which aluminum industry experts say could lose one-third of its aluminum production capacity if the situation further escalates in Guinea.

"This is a serious factor, indeed, which could negatively affect the aluminum market as a whole," Peskov said.