Sergey Lavrov Leads Russian Delegation at 11th Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting
The 11th Ministerial Meeting of the Arctic Council
(AC) took place held in Rovaniemi (Finland) on 6–7 May. The Russian delegation
was headed by Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov. Foreign
ministers from all eight member countries attended the AC meeting for only the
second time in this international organization’s history. On the final day of
the ministerial meeting, Finland officially handed over the chairmanship of the
AC to Iceland for the next two-year period at a special ministerial session.
The meeting participants emphasized that they highly
appreciated Finland’s activities as chairman of the Arctic Council. Some of the
most important achievements of Finland’s chairmanship include strengthening and
developing synergies using the Arctic Council platform to enhance the region’s
resistance to global climate change, minimizing the human impact on the
environment, preserving biodiversity, and developing telecommunications
infrastructure. Russia was actively involved in the council’s work to establish
close interaction between the working bodies of the Arctic Council, work in
joint formats, and prepare joint expert materials and recommendations.
The Russian Federation will take over the chairmanship
of the Arctic Council in 2021. “The consolidation of the international
community’s efforts to develop the Far North is the key to the success of the
Arctic’s sustainable development. Russia thanks Finland for its work and
welcomes Iceland’s strategic plans as chairman of the Arctic Council”, Lavrov
said. “In summing up the results of the ‘Arctic: Territory of Dialogue’ 5th
International Arctic Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia
is building a platform of actions based on eco-friendly technologies. We will
ensure this policy continues during Russia’s chairmanship in the AC in
2021–2023”.
During this period, Russia will focus on practical
areas of work to improve the environment such as transitioning to the use of
liquefied natural gas as a fuel in the transport and energy sectors, developing
a circular economy, and renewable energy. Another important issue will be the
problem of efficient and sustainable energy supply to Arctic villages. Special
attention will be devoted to improving the prosperity and lives of people
living in the Arctic and the indigenous peoples of the Far North as well as
creating conditions for the development and preservation of their languages,
culture, and traditions.
Lavrov held individual bilateral talks with the
foreign affairs ministers of the U.S., Iceland, and Sweden on the sidelines of
the ministerial meeting in Rovaniemi.
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The Arctic Council, a high-level intergovernmental forum, was established on 19 September 1996 in Ottawa (Canada) by eight Arctic states: Russia, Denmark, Iceland, Canada, Norway, the United States, Finland, and Sweden. Six organizations of the indigenous peoples of the Arctic have the status of a permanent participant in the AC: the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON), the Arctic Athabaskan Council (AAC), the Aleut International Association (AIA), Gwich’in Council International (GCI), the Saami Council (SC), and the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC).
Official website of the Arctic
Council: https://arctic-council.org/index.php/en/about-us
Official website of the International Arctic
Forum: forumarctica.ru