The VILLAGE of SABETTA /Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug/, 30 Aug. /TASS/. The Secretary of the Russian security Council Nikolai Patrushev called upon to continue the creation of an effective security architecture in the Arctic, avoiding ultimatums and threats.

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“We need to continue to build an effective security architecture that will guarantee against any attempt of destabilization of the region [the Arctic],” said he, opening the VII international meeting of representatives of the member States of the Arctic Council observer countries in the Arctic Council and foreign scientific community.

“Arctic countries speak different languages, but we can make the language of threats and ultimatums never sounded in the North,” added the Secretary of the Russian security Council.

“Today, when the issue of energy security has acquired a global scale and often move in the political dimension of the theme of Arctic resources more relevant than ever, – said Patrushev. – According to current estimates, the hydrocarbon reserves in the region amount to 90 billion barrels of oil, 47 trillion cubic meters of natural gas, and 44 billion barrels of gas condensate”.

“However, the irresponsible race for resources may cause ecological disasters and destruction of traditional ways of life of peoples of the North, warned the Secretary of the security Council. – The unique features of the Arctic is able to instantly give any negative incident, the scope of this disaster. Therefore, careful attitude to the resources of the region must be a top priority for all of us.”

Patrushev urged, in spite of some inter-state differences, to combine efforts for a common cause – preservation of the Arctic as a unique natural and cultural heritage of all mankind. “It involves a number of difficult but still solvable tasks,” he said. In particular, it is necessary to establish a comprehensive dialogue on economic issues. “The harsh conditions of the region make most of the projects are so complex that their implementation is possible only in close international cooperation, stressed the Secretary of security Council of Russia. – You already know, for example, that in the project “Yamal LNG” involved the Russian, Chinese and French capital, contractors, and partners from dozens of countries of the world.”

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Patrushev also called for enhancing the role of the Northern sea route and develop the transport infrastructure in the Arctic.

“We need to make efforts to improve the accessibility of the Arctic region, – said the Secretary of the Russian security Council. – We are talking primarily about enhancing the role of the Northern sea route, the development of which the Russian side puts large efforts, including in terms of operation which have no analogues in the world nuclear icebreaking fleet.” “The accessibility of the Arctic also implies the creation of infrastructure for tourism and attracting in the region of skilled professionals,” he added.

Patrushev noted the need for scientific and technological support of Arctic exploration. “Arctic technology is not a fad, but a profitable sphere of activity, he said. – In our country already realize that the successful application in harsh Arctic conditions is a unique quality mark, which instantly makes the technology relevant and competitive”.

Secretary of the security Council of the Russian Federation considers it necessary to work to increase the popularity of the Arctic, to attract the attention of the international community regarding its development and preservation. “Great importance is played by the development of Arctic tourism, – said Patrushev. We can count on the respect to this region only when all of humanity, not just the Arctic States recognize the intrinsic value of the Arctic as the common heritage of mankind”.

Secretary of the Russian security Council stressed that the Arctic is facing such challenges, it would seem, are long gone. He said that after the meeting, its participants will show presentations on the elimination of outbreaks of anthrax that occurred on the Yamal Peninsula in 2016. “Here I would like to mention that we managed not only to stop the spread of dangerous diseases, but also in the shortest terms to restore the property lost by the indigenous local people, – said Patrushev. – This proves once again that even when faced with extraordinary challenges in the Arctic, we can respond to them with the highest standards of social responsibility”.

Infographics

Arctic zone

Arctic — the North polar region of Earth, including the outskirts of the continents of Eurasia and North America, almost the entire Arctic ocean with the Islands, except for coastal Islands of Norway, and also adjacent parts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. With the “Arctic border” five countries: Russia, Canada, USA, Norway and Denmark.