Putin: Much noise about the Arctic
-We are working within the frames of the rules formulated by the United Nations, on the basis of international law, Putin said yesterday about his country’s policies towards the Arctic. He maintained that there lately has been too much noise around studies of the Arctic.
Talking to the board of the Russian Geographical Society yesterday, Putin said that the Russian flag planting on the North Pole sea bed had arisen “much noise” among the country’s neighbors. He maintained that the reactions on the flag planting had been “absolutely unfounded”.
-Nobody has hindered anyone to put a flag on the North Pole. Let them [the critics] plant their own flags [there], it they are able to, Putin said.
The prime minister stressed that Russia is working within the frames of the rules formulated by the United Nations, on the basis of international law, a transcript available on the government website reads.
Putin stressed that scientific studies constitute the basis for decision-making under international law in the Arctic and that Russia is ready to continue its cooperation with it foreign partners in the area.
He also said that Russia intends to organize an international conference on the Arctic, where all problems linked with the area can be discussed in an “absolutely relaxed, kind and good-neighborly tone”, and where all countries can “listen to each other and not threaten with non-existing problems”.
