Russian foreign minister to take part in Arctic forum

MOSCOW, April 4. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will take part in the fifth international Arctic Forum "Arctic: Territory of Dialogue", set to be held in St. Petersburg, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova informed during Thursday’s briefing. "On April 9-10, the fifth international Arctic Forum "Arctic: Territory of Dialogue" will take place in St. Petersburg with the participation of the Russian president [Vladimir Putin], as well as the presidents of Iceland [Gudni Johannesson], Finland [Sauli Niinisto], prime ministers of Norway [Erna Solberg], Sweden [Stefan Lofven]," Zakharova said. "Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will also attend the forum." The diplomat stressed that the forum has generated significant interest of the international community. Foreign ministers of Denmark [Anders Samuelsen], Iceland [Gudlaugur Thor Thordarson] and Norway [Ine Eriksen Soreide], as well as high-ranking officials from "many European and Asian countries outside of [the Arctic] region" and representatives of international organizations are also set to participate in the forum. "The main topic of the forum is "Arctic - an ocean of possibilities". The attention will mainly be focused on ensuring sustainable social-economic development of the region, preserving unique Arctic ecological systems, raising the quality of life and strengthening international cooperation with these aims," Zakharova added. "The event’s program is divided into three parts: Coastal Territories, The Open Ocean and Sustainable Development. Twenty-nine topical sessions are planned within these categories." The spokeswoman added that within the framework of the international cooperation bloc, a ministerial discussion would take place, attended by the Russian top diplomat and his colleagues from Scandinavian states. "The Arctic Forum fits the paradigm of multilateral cooperation in the region, gathering all interested players in the Arctic on its platform, summarizing and developing the existing discussions of the region’s issues," the diplomat concluded. "The brainstorming of issues related to the Arctic Region will continue within the framework of the Arctic Council at the ministerial meeting in Finland on May 6-7." The fifth international Arctic Forum "Arctic: Territory of Dialogue" will take place in St. Petersburg on April 9-10, 2019. Read more