Russian diplomat on Arctic current events

Arctic nations will have to decide for themselves whether to rely upon their sovereign rights or involve international organizations when addressing issues of the region’s exploration. A statement to that effect came from Russia’s Ambassador to the Arctic Council Anton Vasiliev. As a guest of VOR studios, Mr. Vasiliev commented upon the situation:

“All territorial disputes in the Arctic Ocean will be resolved in terms of the existing contractual legal framework, particularly the United Nations Convention Law of the Sea,” Anton Vasiliev said. “This evoked a comprehensive discussion at an Arctic Conference in Copenhagen, which focused on the race for Arctic resources and political cooperation in the region. 

“Delivering her speech at the forum, Danish Environment Minister Karen Elleman said that about 95 percent of these resources are owned by five Arctic states, including Russia, the US, Canada, Denmark and Norway. Due to their sovereignty over certain parts of the Arctic Ocean, they have to respond to any new challenges posed by other countries, as laid down in the Yellowstone declaration I was requested to speak on,” the diplomat said. “Already emerging, such challenges are most likely to grow in the context of both climate changes and technological development. The declaration also provides for a legally-based settlement of any overlapping claims for Arctic territories. Although the Copenhagen Conference was not the first of its kind, it aroused particular interest for highlighting issues surrounding resources and political cooperation in the Arctic,” Anton Vasiliev said.

The discussion resulted from the belated view of the Arctic as a zone of numerous existing and possible conflicts, just as a struggle for natural resources and territories. 

“Actually, the situation in the region is a model of civilized relations,” Anton Vasiliev responded to the question about his opinion on the issue. “Last year the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf approved claims by Norway for an additional area in the Arctic Ocean. The situation was peacefully and professionally settled, in particular as related to neighboring Russia, which has always inviolately observed the Yellowstone declaration,” Anton Vasiliev emphasized.