Interfax: Russia, U.S. cooperating in telecommunications, environmental issues, access to drinking water in Arctic

Arctic Map

MOSCOW. Dec 4 (Interfax) – Russia and the United States are cooperating in spheres of mutual interest in the Arctic Council, Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador at Large, senior official in the Arctic Council Vladimir Barbin has said.

“Speaking of the U.S. program, they have lots of projects Russia is interested in […]. Naturally, we will be cooperating with them,” Barbin said at a youth forum of indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East, ‘Russian North’.

In his words, the sides are interested in cooperation in the field of “telecommunications, protection of the marine environment, development of the network of natural reserves and nature conservancy areas, access to quality drinking water and new environmentally friendly electric power sources.”

“The Arctic Council operates on the principle of consensus,” Barbin said.

“This means the Arctic Council cannot be successful if national interests of any state are disregarded. Hence, all countries are focused on cooperation,” he said.

“Tensions are rather low in the Arctic compared to other regions, and we are interacting there,” Barbin said.

The United States is presiding in the Arctic Council in 2015-2017.
 

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