ARKHANGELSK, March 29. /TASS/. Russia will take steps to improve environmental situation in the Arctic region, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said opening the Arctic - Territory of Dialogue International Forum in Arkhangelsk, a city in the north of European Russia.

"Today the activity of companies working in the Arctic is clearly regulated in this (environmental) sphere, each our company has developed and is implementing environmental protection programs, and a major work was carried out to eliminate the damage to the environment stemming from the previous industrial eras," Rogozin said.

"Indeed, we have done a lot and plan to do more so that our home - the Arctic - could become environmentally friendly and convenient for us and our guests and partners," the deputy prime minister said.

Russia has accumulated a unique and invaluable experience by developing the Arctic and the Northern Sea Route, he said. "We introduced a broad range of unique technologies in different areas that were tested in tough and severe conditions of the Extreme North," Rogozin said, noting that Russia has been the world’s leader in this field.

The Arctic region should be preserved as a peaceful territory, this is a major priority for Russia.

"For Russia, the Arctic has always been a region of special interest," Rogozin said. "Russia’s main national interests in the Arctic are preserving it as a territory of peace and cooperation."

He noted that the Arctic is not just a very rich region where various countries’ economic, ecological, resource and transport interests are concentrated. According to Rogozin, "it is our home, which we have inherited from our ancestors." That is why it is so important to build a dialogue in this territory, he added.

"As the chairman of the State Commission for the Development of the Arctic, I officially declare that our country’s actions are aimed at creating a modern, comfortable environment in these territories, preserving the identity of indigenous peoples as the carriers of genetically inherited knowledge about these harsh living conditions, the possibility of survival and prosperity there," Rogozin said, recalling the long-term and successful history of exploring the Arctic region by Russia.