MOSCOW, December 10 (Itar-Tass) —— The Russian government has approved of a draft strategy of Russia’s presence in Spitsbergen till 2020. The decision was made after a meeting of the government commission for the country’s presence in the archipelago.

“When authorized under a special government resolution, this document will serve as a benchmark for economic activity and for safeguarding Russia’s interests in the region,” First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov, who heads the commission, said at the session.