Medvedev: Russia Must Tap Arctic Resources
18 Mar 2010
Associated Press
President Dmitry Medvedev has said that Russia must defend its claims to mineral riches of the Arctic in increasing competition with other powers.
Medvedev said global climate change is likely to fuel arguments between nations seeking access to energy and other resources, adding that attempts have been made to limit Russia's access to Arctic resources. He said: "Regrettably, we have seen attempts to limit Russia's access to the exploration and development of the Arctic mineral resources...That's absolutely inadmissible from the legal viewpoint and unfair given our nation's geographical location and history."
Russia claims a large part of the Arctic seabed as its own, arguing that it is an extension of its continental shelf.