"Russia has four goals in the Arctic: it is an important region for economic development; in environmental protection, it is a region that influences the global climate; in our traditional territory where a lot of our people live; it is a place for the development of huge industrial complexes," Senator Vyacheslav Shtyrov said.
The lawmaker proposed analyzing the potential for the Arctic to become a transport bridge between Europe and Asia, and offered instituting border protections.
"Russia should strengthen its northern borders [in the Arctic], why do we strengthen our southern borders but have a revolving door in the north," he stressed.
Shtyrov spoke to the press at an "Arctic Region: Development, Security, Environment" conference organized by the Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency.
On Friday, November 20, a joint state and legislative hearing discussed the key parameters of Russia’s Arctic development bill.
Speaking at the joint session, Deputy Prime Minister and chair of the state Arctic commission Dmitry Rogozin said the new bill must take into account current international diplomacy in drafting the bill.
In August, Russia resubmitted to the United Nations its bid to expand its Arctic continental shelf area to include a total undersea distance of 350 nautical miles. The new bid includes additional scientific evidence backing Russia’s claim to expanded territorial rights.
Vast untapped oil and gas reserves are thought to be contained in the Arctic. Five Arctic Circle countries, including the United States, Russia, Canada, Norway and Denmark, have expressed their interest to exploit these resources.
