In the fjord outside Kirkenes Sea King helicopters, rib boats, the Coast Guard and Norwegian and Russian rescue crew joined forces in a grand display of their abilities for rescue operations. With Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev ringside there was a spectacular training operation on the fjord.
”This operation underlines the importance of a close cooperation between Norway and Russia on such operations”, Stoltenberg said during the press conference for the bilateral meetings in Kirkenes.
Stoltenberg told the audience that there is already an agreement for search and rescue in the Arctic Council and that Norway and Russia should enter an even closer bilateral cooperation on security at sea. There are several annual exercises on search and rescue operation today, where Barents Rescue is the most extensive one. These days Exercise Barents is happening outside Kirkenes, with both Norwegian and Russian participants.
”We must always continue to improve our capacity on search and rescue operations, said Stoltenberg.
In addition to search and rescue, the two neighbouring countries will engage in a closer cooperation on oil spill preparedness in the north. ”There is more and more ship traffic and activity in the north and thus we have to increase the work and cooperation to be prepared, said Stoltenberg.
