Both Oslo, Moscow Lose From New West-Russia ‘Cold-War’

The chairman of Norway’s Communist Party stressed that the tensions between Russia and Norway have a significant impact on the cooperation in the Barents region.

MOSCOW (Sputnik), Daria Chernyshova — Ongoing tensions between Russian and the West create a lose-lose situation for Moscow and Oslo, the chairman of Norway’s Communist Party told Sputnik Wednesday.

"I think this new cold war develops a lose-lose-situation for Norwegians and Russians at the same time," Runa Evensen said.

She urged steps to improve "connections on all bilateral levels in the Nordic area, between all participants to give peace, environment and meaningful jobs a 'new deal.'"

Evensen stressed that the tensions between Russia and Norway have a significant impact on the cooperation in the Barents region, with Norwegian oil companies suffering from "the war in currency, together with decrease in oil-production."

"Important cooperation to heighten the environmental standards in oil-industry, as for example in a probable cooperation with the Stockmann-fields is part of this decline in activities in this sector," Evensen said.

Following Crimea's reunification with Russia and the escalation of the internal Ukrainian conflict, the United States, the European Union and their allies, including Norway, introduced economic sanctions against Russia for its alleged interference in Ukraine's affairs.

In response to the Western sanctions, in August 2014 Moscow introduced an embargo on the import of a range of food products from the countries that imposed sanctions against it. The measure was prolonged earlier this year.

Last month, Norway, along with Iceland, Montenegro, Albania, Liechtenstein, Ukraine and Georgia decided to extend the existing sanctions against Russian until June 23, 2016.