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Rice Rebukes Russia Over Activities in Disputed Arctic Waters
May 30 (Bloomberg) -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice criticized Russia's activities on the resource-rich Arctic shelf as ``not helpful'' and called for international laws governing the disputed waters to be obeyed. Rice made the comments today at the Hofdi House in the Icelandic capital, Reykjavik -- where President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev famously met in October 1986 to discuss arms control.A Russian mini-submarine planted a flag under the polar cap in August, a move Danish Science Minister Helge Sander at the time called a ``joke.'' Russia contends the underwater Lomonosov Ridge links Siberia to the Arctic seabed, evidence of which may allow the country to extend its territory under international law. Russia's government predicts the area may hold 10 billion tons of oil equivalent, as well as gold, nickel and diamonds. ``I think we have to be concerned not just about the resources but about the resurgence of some activity that the Russians have been'' carrying out, Rice said alongside Icelandic Foreign Minister Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir. ``We're quite aware of it. We speak to the Russians.'' Under the United Nations Law of the Sea convention, the countries on the Arctic Ocean have rights to economic zones within 200 miles (320 kilometers) of their shores. The UN will accept scientific data until 2014 and then decide on ownership of the parts of the Arctic claimed by Russia, the U.S., Canada, Norway and Denmark, through its semi-autonomous territory of Greenland. ``We believe very strongly that international law needs to be respected here,'' Rice said. ``This certainly shouldn't be an issue of conflict.'' Canada responded to Russia's flag-planting by saying it would move troops to its north to assert Arctic sovereignty. The five countries with Arctic shorelines will work for an ``orderly settlement'' of their claims, their governments said in a joint declaration yesterday after concluding a two-day summit on the dispute in Ilulissat, Greenland. Posted by: Steve White 2008-05-31 |
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