Approval of the draft Agreement to Strengthen International Arctic Research Cooperation

The draft Agreement has been submitted by an ad hoc international target group involving Russian representatives under decisions adopted at Arctic Council ministerial sessions. The Agreement aims to advance international research projects in the Arctic, expand contacts between scientists, promote the sharing of research results, simplify border-crossing procedures, and explore the possibility of jointly using research infrastructure

Reference

The document has been submitted by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The signed directive approves the draft Agreement to Strengthen International Arctic Research Cooperation, hereinafter referred to as the Agreement.

The Agreement was drafted by an ad hoc international target group involving Russian representatives under decisions adopted at Arctic Council ministerial sessions, formalised in the 2013 Kiruna Declaration and the 2015 Iqaluit Declaration.

The Arctic Council is an international regional forum promoting cooperation between Arctic states in the area of environmental protection and the sustained development of polar areas. On 19 September 1996, the declaration establishing the Arctic Council was signed in Ottawa, Canada. Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States are all members of the Arctic Council.

The Agreement aims to advance international research projects in the Arctic, expand contacts between scientists, promote the sharing of research results, simplify border-crossing procedures and explore the possibility of jointly using research infrastructure.

At the same time, it is stipulated that the Parties shall help each other gain access to ground, coastal, atmospheric and high-seas sectors in specific Arctic areas where the states who are party to the agreement exercise sovereignty, sovereign rights or jurisdiction, as well as to high-seas areas outside their national jurisdiction north of the 62^nd degree northern latitude, for the purpose of conducting previously coordinated research projects

This Agreement is a framework document and provides for the signing, whenever necessary, of specialised agreements or accords on specific projects and aspects of Arctic research cooperation.

For the purposes of the Agreement, each Party shall appoint a competent national agency acting as a responsible coordinator. The Ministry of Education and Science shall act as coordinator on behalf of the Russian Federation.

Signing the Agreement will help expand international cooperation in the Arctic, including research projects.