Russia is happy to enter into dialogue with new countries and organizations that want to join cooperation with the Arctic Council, however, Russia also believes that the Arctic ‘founders’ have a special responsibility for the development of the region.
The Arctic Council was founded in 1996 and consists of eight Arctic member states: Norway, Russia, Iceland, Finland, Denmark/Greenland/the Faroe Islands, Sweden, Finland, the USA and Canada.
The cooperation between Norway and Russia has been very limited for the past three years, as a consequence of sanctions going both ways, following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. In an interview published by High North News a fortnight ago, Ramishvili stated that the country at times perceives the international cooperation climate in the Arctic as more positive than the condition in her current bilateral relationship with Norway.
Peace and fruitful cooperation
- The strategy we have built in the Arctic is based on current international law and dialogue providing a good foundation for regulating all questions related to the Arctic. Included in this, the Ambassador says, are questions related to establishing outer boundaries for the continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean.
- Must not be politicized
Indigenous people and economic cooperation
During the coming spring, the chairmanship of the independent, Arctic Council-initiated organization Arctic Economic Council is transferred to Finland
- Up through the years, the role of the Arctic Council and the scope of activities aimed at sustainable developing of the Arctic region has increased considerably, Ramishvili says.
- The unique thing about the Arctic is further emphasized by the fact that indigenous people’s organizations are permanent members actively involved with the activities of the Arctic Council. This provides close adjustments when it comes to join projects, he says.
- Economic development is vital
In addition to the eight Arctic member states of the Arctic Council, six organizations represent various indigenous groups across the Arctic that hold a position of permanent observers. The Council may grant non-Arctic states and organizations observer status. Japan, India, South Korea, China and Singapore are just a few of the countries that hold such status at present.
- There is an ever-increasing interest in the Arctic at present, from several states and international organizations, and many want to achieve observer status in the Council. Russia is open to dialogue and interaction with these actors. However, we are of the opinion that the states that are the founders of the Council hold a particular responsibility for securing a sustainable development of the Arctic, and that they intend to keep playing a lead role in the Arctic cooperation.
The Arctic Council was founded in 1996 and consists of eight Arctic member states: Norway, Russia, Iceland, Finland, Denmark/Greenland/the Faroe Islands, Sweden, Finland, the USA and Canada.
The cooperation between Norway and Russia has been very limited for the past three years, as a consequence of sanctions going both ways, following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. In an interview published by High North News a fortnight ago, Ramishvili stated that the country at times perceives the international cooperation climate in the Arctic as more positive than the condition in her current bilateral relationship with Norway.
Peace and fruitful cooperation
- The strategy we have built in the Arctic is based on current international law and dialogue providing a good foundation for regulating all questions related to the Arctic. Included in this, the Ambassador says, are questions related to establishing outer boundaries for the continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean.
- Must not be politicized
Indigenous people and economic cooperation
During the coming spring, the chairmanship of the independent, Arctic Council-initiated organization Arctic Economic Council is transferred to Finland
- Up through the years, the role of the Arctic Council and the scope of activities aimed at sustainable developing of the Arctic region has increased considerably, Ramishvili says.
- The unique thing about the Arctic is further emphasized by the fact that indigenous people’s organizations are permanent members actively involved with the activities of the Arctic Council. This provides close adjustments when it comes to join projects, he says.
- Economic development is vital
In addition to the eight Arctic member states of the Arctic Council, six organizations represent various indigenous groups across the Arctic that hold a position of permanent observers. The Council may grant non-Arctic states and organizations observer status. Japan, India, South Korea, China and Singapore are just a few of the countries that hold such status at present.
- There is an ever-increasing interest in the Arctic at present, from several states and international organizations, and many want to achieve observer status in the Council. Russia is open to dialogue and interaction with these actors. However, we are of the opinion that the states that are the founders of the Council hold a particular responsibility for securing a sustainable development of the Arctic, and that they intend to keep playing a lead role in the Arctic cooperation.
