Top Diplomats of Arctic States to Address Common Issues at Biennial Ministerial

© Flickr / NOAA Photo LibraryThe United States has plans to ask Canada to install a new missile sensor system in that country's part of the Arctic, in order to upgrade old sensors and be able to detect multiple types of missile threats.
The United States has plans to ask Canada to install a new missile sensor system in that country's part of the Arctic, in order to upgrade old sensors and be able to detect multiple types of missile threats. - Sputnik International
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Foreign ministers of the eight Arctic countries will discuss the most pressing common issues during the biennial Arctic Council ministerial meeting in Fairbanks, Alaska on Thursday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The 10th ministerial gathering will review the work completed under the two-year US chairmanship, and address regional problems, including socioeconomic and environmental issues.

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The foreign ministers of all eight countries, including the United States, Canada, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Finland, and Denmark are set to participate in the meeting that will conclude the US chairmanship.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will lead Russia’s delegation, while the US delegation will be headed by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland announced on Wednesday that she would attend the meeting on May 11.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that a declaration on commitment to peace, stability and cooperation in the Arctic region will be approved during the Arctic Council ministerial meeting.

Moscow is seeking to enhance the international collaboration in the Arctic region, both on the bilateral and multilateral basis, first and foremost, within the Arctic Council, according to the foreign ministry.

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The eight Arctic nations are expected to sign a binding agreement on enhancing scientific cooperation in the Arctic following several years of negotiations co-led by Russia and the United States.

Participants of the meeting may also decide to increase the number of the observers to the organization.

The State Department announced that while in Alaska, Tillerson will meet with US indigenous representatives to the Arctic Council.

US Senator Lisa Murkowski, who represents the state of Alaska, told Sputnik the issues and concerns of the indigenous people of the Arctic region should be among top priorities of the Arctic Council.

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Former Secretary of State John Kerry set an ambitious agenda for the US chairmanship under the theme "One Arctic" — to address climate change, Arctic communities’ conditions, and enhance ocean safety.

During the ministerial meeting, Finland will take over the rotating Arctic Council chairmanship from the United States. Helsinki will assume the chairmanship for the 2017-2019 period.

The Arctic Council is an intergovernmental forum comprised of the eight Arctic nations. Six international organizations representing Arctic Indigenous Peoples have permanent participant status. There are currently twelve non-Arctic observer nations at the council.

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