Arctic Future: Finland Pleads, Russia Insists
Russian drifting ice station “North Pole – 2015”. Photo by: Artyom Geodakyan/TASS
The Head of the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs appealed to the global community to revise the status of the Arctic in international law
Илья Савин
3 мин
During a conference at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, the Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini made a statement that can be considered worrisome by the Russian authorities.
In his opinion, existing international norms that regulate navigation, fishing industry and environmental protection in the Arctic demand certain corrections. The need for change is explained by a number of objective factors, among which the most significant are ecology and politics. Specifically, Mr. Soini drew attention to global warming that is expected to melt the ice covers the Arctic Ocean and open new routes for travel and trade.