Russia set to expand in the Arctic, Putin says
Russia intends to expand its presence in the Arctic, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Thursday, RIA Novosti reported.
Mr. Putin, speaking at a regional conference of the pro-Kremlin United Russia parity in Yekaterinburg, reiterated that Russia will not backtrack on its territorial claims on the underwater Lomonosov and Mendeleev ridges in the Arctic region.
"Russia is certainly set to expand its presence in the Arctic. We are open for dialog with our foreign partners, our neighbors in the Arctic region, but, naturally, we will protect our geopolitical interests firmly and consistently," Putin said.
Russia has laid claim to large parts of the Arctic shelf, which is believed to contain rich oil and gas deposits, saying it is an extension of its own continental shelf. The claim was rejected by the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf over lack of information.
Russia is expected to prepare additional data supporting its claim by December 2013 and submit it in early 2014.
Mr. Putin, speaking at a regional conference of the pro-Kremlin United Russia parity in Yekaterinburg, reiterated that Russia will not backtrack on its territorial claims on the underwater Lomonosov and Mendeleev ridges in the Arctic region.
"Russia is certainly set to expand its presence in the Arctic. We are open for dialog with our foreign partners, our neighbors in the Arctic region, but, naturally, we will protect our geopolitical interests firmly and consistently," Putin said.
Russia has laid claim to large parts of the Arctic shelf, which is believed to contain rich oil and gas deposits, saying it is an extension of its own continental shelf. The claim was rejected by the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf over lack of information.
Russia is expected to prepare additional data supporting its claim by December 2013 and submit it in early 2014.
