Arctic Russia

norway/russia: oustanding agreements

This report in прийм-тасс emphasizes that historic handshakes (vecti has videofootage of the press conference) are not quite the same thing as detailed agreement.  The report states that, ‘Москва рассчитывает на диалог по этому вопросу’, which roughly means that Moscow is considering the dialogue on this issue, which is the precise border on the southern part of the Barents Sea.  This is no small matter as it contains estimated large quantities of oil and gas.  It is also not clear that everything regarding Svalbard has been resolved either.  Clearly, there is some way to go though Russian experts quoted in the article are confident that Russia’s case regarding the Arctic is being recognized in various European capitals.  This report also from прийм-тасс has a map of the disputed zone, the southern area still outstanding and a quote from Medvedev – ‘  Юридические решения приняты. Нам осталось только подумать, где и как провести подписание” – i.e., ‘the legal decisions are accepted, we just need to think about where and how we implement the signatures’ – the article makes clear that much of the ‘agreement’ was dedicated to declarations of cooperative relations.

In this publication ex-Governor of Murmansk Yuri Evdomikov stresses that he needs to know how the disputed area has been divided, horizontally or vertically, because the northern part is empty and the southern part resource rich.

novopol argues that the agreement needs to be seen in the context of the wider issues of the Arctic.  And Yuri Evdomikov, when asked about this and relations with Canada, thinks that the joint cooperation can be seen as ‘ единая политика’ – one politics.  And novopol expresses confidence that Russia’s diplomatic efforts are working well on all fronts.  Indeed, the joint press statement reprinted in the national portal природа-россии notes that, ‘The parties welcomed the understanding reached by them in connection with the presentation of Russia and Norway to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf of documentation on the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles’.

Experts are keen to stress that this agreement does not affect the interests of third parties.  All parties will hope that the remaining details are sorted out and the joint initiatives work well.  Nenashev, from United Russia, who was recently critical of journalists who failed to get behind the Arctic policy, and who was part of the delegation to Norway, is now arguing that the Russian Navy must play a vital role in supporting any economic development plans.  United Russia rep. in the Duma states that Russia will continue to pursue its geopolitical interests in the Arctic (from the United Russia website).