MOSCOW, October 27./TASS/. The West’s exploiting the Ukrainian issue in international Arctic cooperation stands in the way of achieving the goals of sustainable development in the Arctic Region, Nikolay Korchunov, Ambassador at Large of the Russian Foreign Ministry, told an international event focusing on aspects of international cooperation in the Arctic on Thursday.
Russia's priority as chair of the Arctic Council is to ensure the sustainable development of the Arctic Region, which is enshrined in a number of international documents, such as the council's strategic plan until 2030, said Korchunov, who is chairman of the Committee of Senior Arctic Officials. "We believe that artificially intermingling extra-regional issues, such as the Ukrainian one, with the issue of international Arctic cooperation does not bring us closer to achieving the goals set out in these documents," Korchunov pointed out.
In addition, the diplomat noted that the problems of that region would grow since the West has frozen all communication with Russia in the Arctic Council. According to Korchunov, Russia does not believe the Arctic Council can be replaced with any alternative structures. "Since they will not allow us to come up with new models, including scientific ones, so necessary for the development of the Arctic, which require the contribution of all countries, without Russia, these models simply will not work," he added.
Korchunov earlier stated that the member countries of the Arctic Council had frozen all contacts with Russia through the mechanisms of international Arctic cooperation, practically leaving the indigenous peoples of the Arctic without effective platforms for interaction.