"Barents Sea agreement might come before Shtokman"
Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre believes a Norwegian-Russian agreement on the disputed zone in the Barents Sea might come before production starts in the Shtokman project.
Gazprom plans to start production in its huge 3,8 trillion cubic meter gas field in year 2013. -We are in a good rhythm now, Norway’s Jonas Gahr Støre said about the ongoing negotiations over the 175,000 square meter disputed zone. Negotiation over the zone were resumed when Støree entered the foreign minister’s post in 2005. -It is natural that two good neighbours have settled borders both on land and at sea, the minister said in a meeting in the premises of the Norwegian Barents Secretariat in Kirkenes, Norway, today. -It is not impossible that we will get ready a deal before production start in the Shtokman project, the minister said, adding that he can not comment on the complexity of the process among Russian authorities. -Norway is ready to take the last steps in the process, Mr. Støre underlined. During their meetings in Kirkenes today, the two ministers signed and exchanged the ratified Varanger agreement, a deal on border delineation in the southernmost part of the disputed zone. According to Minister Støre, the principles used in the Varanger agreement can be built further on in the negotiations. Photo: Barentsphoto.com
