Russia intends to maintain its Arctic presence and assert extended continental shelf claims under international rules, Russia’s ambassador at large and envoy to the Arctic Council said Saturday.
ST. PETERSBURG (Sputnik) — Russia’s representative at the intergovernmental Arctic Council stressed that international laws ruled out any "potential for conflict over access to mineral and biological resources" in the Arctic. "The international law is crystal clear on the rights of Arctic coastal countries and others," Vladimir Barbin said.
"Russia in its turn is intent on sticking to agreements and acting in the Arctic solely within international laws," Ambassador at Large Vladimir Barbin said at a meeting in St. Petersburg, devoted to international economic cooperation in the Arctic.
The ambassador invoked the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which defines outer limit lines of continental shelf for coastal states and their exclusive economic zones.
