Cooperation worthy of imitation

- The Arctic has been described as an arena for fight for resources. I believe the Arctic is a region for dialogue and cooperation that can serve as an inspiration for other regions of the world, Lind said at the second International Arctic Forum in Arkhangelsk.

All of the Arctic is covered by international law and regulations, Lind explained and underlined the importance of all Arctic states having almost identical strategies for their activity in the area: protection of the environment, sustainable growth and concern for indigenous peoples and the rest of the local population.

Sweden took over the chairmanship in the Arctic Council in 2011. According to Lind, Sweden will use its period in the chair to make the Arctic Council ready for the increased activity in the Arctic. He outlines four directions where the Arctic Council aims on improvements: To make more concrete decisions, like the Agreement on Search and Rescue that was concluded on the last ministerial meeting in Nuuk; to be faster to react on current issues; to clearer express the similarity in arctic states’ policy; to spread more information out to the world on how the arctic states cooperate.

Scandinavian countries have held the last three periods of chairmanship in the Arctic Council – Norway 2006-2009, Denmark 2009-2011 and Sweden 2011-2013. Arguing that delivering results on the major challenges facing the Arctic region takes more time than a two-year chairmanship allows, the three countries have agreed on a set of common priorities for the three chairmanships.