Jewish Autonomous Region

[pms]

I didn't know there was a JAR in Russia.  Is this like a Jewish state?
Anyone know how big, how long in existence, etc?

Chinese-funded gold mining venture to be launched in Russian Far East
Source: BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific - Political
Publication date: 2002-08-15

Text of report in English by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS
Birobidzhan, 15 August: The first gold mining enterprise with 100- per-cent
Chinese capital is to be founded in the Jewish Autonomous Region (JAR) not
later than in November this year.

This was announced by a JAR government official on Wednesday [14 August]
after talks with a Chinese delegation of the large industrial city of
Hegang, Heilongjiang Province. Two gold deposits, the reserves of which are
estimated at more than 200 kg, will be turned over to the Hegang Gold Mining
Board.

An official in the JAR department of natural resources has told ITAR-TASS
that the Chinese gold miners will be given placer gold deposits which are
not claimed by anyone. As a result, approximately 200 jobs will be created
for the rural residents of Oktyabrskiy District, the budget of which will
get 6 per cent of tax revenue from the gold mined.

Publication date: 2002-08-15