The Russian Ambassador Mr V.Barbin’s comment on questions from the journalist S.Kruse, which were partly reflected in the publication of the Danish newspaper «Berlingske» on May 20, 2021

1) As you know Denmark and Russia have overlapping claims in the Arctic including around the North Pole. Those are currently under consideration by the relevant UN body. How does Mr. Lavrov's statement align with the fact that this issue has not been settled yet?

2) Does Mr. Lavrov's statement signal that Russia already now consider the central Arctic Waters around the North Pole to be Russian waters?

3) Russia has signaled concern regarding US military activities in Northern Norway and elsewhere. Does this dissatisfaction affect Russia's stated intent to follow the UN process regarding claims in the Arctic? Can we rest assured that this process, including the process around the Danish claim, will be respected?

4) Is there any contact with the Danish side on the question of the territorial claims in the Arctic and if yes, how are the discussions in this field proceeding?

5) We would like a comment on one remark from Mette Frederiksen mentioning NATO in the Arctic, during the meeting with Antony Blinken: «Det er afgørende at sørge for, at det er Rigsfællesskabet, USA og NATO, der spiller den afgørende rolle i Arktis». ("It is vital to make sure, that it is the Kingdom of Denmark, USA and NATO who play the decisive role in the Arctic").

6) What does ambassador Barbin expect from the Arctic Council meeting this week?

«Lavrov`s words are being cited out of the context. Russia has been often accused of the militarization of the Arctic with the reference to the restoration of its old military bases and the construction of new ones there. However, such activities are taking place in the areas within the Russian state boarder where Russia has sovereign rights and jurisdiction. Lavrov highlighted this fact very clearly. Russia never had and does not have now any claims for the entire Artic.

Russia is committed to the international law and non-legally binding agreements with the coastal Arctic states, including Ilulissat Declaration, and is acting accordingly to the legal and political obligations. Russia counts on that the other coastal Arctic states are doing the same.

Russia and Denmark are in a constructive dialogue on the issue of the extended continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles in the Arctic Ocean. There is no misunderstanding between our two countries. The informal regular discussion on this matter embraces all coastal Arctic states. This is essential for ensuring the stability and predictability of the developments in the region taking into account overlapping claims of the Arctic states, including claims presented by Russia and Denmark to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.

The negotiations on the delimitation of the extended continental shelf could be finilized only when and if the Commission approves the claims. The Russian claim has being considered by the Commission for almost six years and the decision has not been taken yet. The consideration of the Danish claim has not been started yet.

The delimitation issue is an extremely sensitive one for any country and a lot of time is needed to find a solution which should be accepted by the public opinion. It took more than 40 year for Russia and Norway to agree on the maritime delimitation in the Barents Sea. The important precondition for the success of the negotiations at that time was the mutual trust and the confidence in good intentions of each other. The deployment of foreign armed forces close to the Russian Arctic boarder and which are capable to execute a strategic assault, inter alia with the nuclear weapons, could hardly be considered by Russia as an input to the stability in the Arctic.

The Arctic States declared many times their main responsibility for peace and security in the Arctic. This concept has never been disputed either by the Arctic states themselves or by non-regional states. There is no place for NATO and its military build-up in the Arctic. The opposite will mean the abandonment by the leadership role of the Arctic states in the region and their responsibility for keeping the Arctic as a low-tension area. Such possible developments demand a new assessment of the security situation in the Arctic.

The upcoming Ministerial meeting of the Arctic Council is expected to confirm the commitment of all Arctic States to find joint responses for common challenges as well as to joint use of new emerging opportunities for cooperation in the region. Russia assumes the Chairmanship in the Artic Council and counts on a constructive interaction with all Arctic States, including Denmark, in accomplishing its ambitious chairmanship program aimed at further promoting sustainable development of the Arctic and preventing overspill of tension to the region».