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RF to continue playing leading role in Antarctic exploratn - Putin

He pointed out that over 200 people work in the Russian expedition

MOSCOW, November 22 (Itar-Tass) —— Russia will continue playing the leading role in exploring the Antarctica, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said at the meeting of the government’s presidium on Tuesday.

He pointed out that over 200 people work in the Russian expedition. “In this complicated time we have been able to preserve the infrastructure of Russian presence in the Antarctica. Five research stations function in the Antarctica the year around and there are five seasonal field bases,” he said. “We must and we will certainly be developing it,” he said.

The premier said a new trend in polar explorers’ work requires adequate legislative regulation at the national level. “We must sum up the experience of the presence in the region over many years and formulate for decades ahead the legal base for the work of Russian citizens and organizations in the Antarctica completely in accordance with interstate agreements,” Putin said. He also called attention to Russia’s obligations to preserve ecological safety in the region.

The government’s presidium considers amendments protecting financial interests of Russia and all participants in the activity in the Antarctica.