11 February 2010
chilingarov’s ambition
It has been a long time coming but радио голос росии carried an interview with Artur Chilingarov, all round Russian Arctic hero, the kind of Arctic veteran that makes Pen Haddow look like BenFogle. His comments touch on a number of significant areas including: the claim at the UN where ‘cоблюсти свои национальные интересы России в этом споре будет очень трудно.’ - i.e., the maintenance of Russia’s national interests will be difficult. There is reference to the northern sea route, and Chilingarov refers to a bill currently before the State Duma which will, so the claim goes, regulate the NSR in the same manner as the Suez or Panama canals and which will also, ‘определит его границ’ – i.e. determine its boundaries.
He also mentions his plan, first mooted last year, to land paratroopers at the pole. It appears as though they will get there via airship and that they will establish a base also. The purpose seems to be to generate some political controversey as the landing will enable them to ‘cогласовываем все вопросы, в том числе политические’ – i.e., ‘coordinate all issues, including the political.’
Chilingarov has had a long and impressive career. In the interview he announced that he is to spend the next few days meeting first Colonel Gadaffi and then Prince Charles. With the polar landing coming up is there no end to this man’s ambition?
Thank you for this post. I’m looking forward to the issuance of the new NSR law. If it does approach the NSR similarly to the Suez and Panama Canals, I expect there will be some relief in Europe and Asia, though they will watch the details closely.
I will also be interested in seeing how Russia budgets for establishing aids to navigation and search and rescue services along the route. I assume these will be increases as traffic increases, but we should start seeing investment in these areas soon.