Arctic should remain area for dialogue and partnership - Lavrov

MOSCOW, October 13. /TASS/. Moscow is interested in the Arctic remaining a territory for dialogue and creative partnership, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in his welcoming message to the participants of the international conference dubbed ‘Cooperation in the Arctic: Challenges and Development Vectors’ is being held in Moscow. The message was presented by the Foreign Ministry’s Special Envoy, Vladimir Barbin. "Russia has persistently supported the enhancement of multilateral cooperation in the Arctic, a solution to its pressing issues based on international law, through mutually respectful dialogue and consideration of all of the Arctic states’ interests," the Russian foreign minister said. According to Lavrov, the Arctic Council is the main platform to search for the most appropriate responses to the common challenges and for shaping a positive agenda. "We very much value the input of the Arctic Council in ensuring the sustainable development, peace and stability in the Arctic, improving the quality of life for the residents of the Far North, including its indigenous people," the minister noted. "We expect this conference to provide the experts with an opportunity to deeply assess ways to strengthen mutual confidence and understanding in the region," Lavrov stressed. The conference aims at determining paths for the institutional development of the Arctic Council, prospects for legal regulation of activities in the Arctic, the potential of the regional economic projects and the cooperation with the non-Arctic states. The relevant ministries and agencies’ heads and officials, diplomats, representatives of big business and leading experts from the Arctic Council member states are participating in the conference. Read more