Norway challenged by Russian plans in Spitsbergen waters
Russia this week confirmed its intention to start looking for oil and gas in waters near the Spitsbergen archipelago. Meanwhile, Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre says in a newspaper interview that Norway has the right to establish an economic zone around the islands and that all industrial activities in the area are subjected to Norwegian regulations.
The two apparently contradictory statements illustrate the existing disagreement between Norway and Russia in the Spitsbergen issue. While Norway claims that the Paris Treaty of 1920 gives it the right to establish an economic zone around the archipelago, Russia and a number of other countries maintain that the Paris Treaty only regulates the situation on the archipelago and not at sea.
As BarentsObserver yesterday reported, a document from the Russian Agency on Sub-Soil Resources (Rosnedra) confirms that geological mapping in waters west of the Spitsbergen archipelago will be conducted in 2009. The mapping will be done in the socalled Pomor Depression, Rosnedra announces. The site is one of 34 offshore Arctic sites to be mapped for oil and gas resources next year.
Norwegian control
The information about Russian hydrocarbon mapping will not be well received in Norway. The country has long claimed sovereignty over the waters around the far northern islands.
In an interview with the Russian journal Expert, Norwegian Foreign Minister Støre underlines that Norway bases its positions on its sovereignty over the archipelago and the subsequent right to establish a 200 mile economic zone. –The Spitsbergen Treaty does not constitute an obstacle to this, the minister stresses.
Oil and gas
Asked by the journalist from Expert, Mr. Støre also highlights that other Paris Treaty signatory countries are not entitled to engage in oil and gas-related activities in the Spitsbergen waters without Norwegian consent simply because the area is part of the Norwegian continental shelf.
-Irrespective of the views on the extension and application of the Spitsbergen Treaty, Norway without doubt has the right to regulate the state of affairs and monitor events in the zone, he says to Expert. –This includes the possibility to consider the opening and development of hydrocarbon fields, he adds.
At the same time, Mr. Støre admits that Norway is struggling to win support for its stance not only in Russia, but also in the UK. The official British position is that Spitsbergen has its own shelf, and that it thus can not be considered part of Norwegian waters.
-We can not agree with this, Mr. Støre underlines. -The Spitsbergen shelf is part of the Norwegian shelf.
Russian engagement
It is no secret that Norway fears a more direct Russian engagement in the sensitive issues relating to the Spitsbergen islands. Over the last couple of years, Russian authorities have repeatedly signalled an enhanced policy approach to the area.
Norway might in the years to come have to handle not only a stronger Russian presence on the archipelago, but also in the disputed surrounding waters.
Spitsbergen and the Fishery Protection zone established by Norway in 1977
