Speaking to his regional government on Tuesday, Orlov praised the regional cross-border interaction in the Barents Region. The Arkhangelsk Governor currently chairs the Barents Regional Council, a body consisting of the leaders from all 13 member regions.
“Our chairmanship of the Regional Council comes in a rather complicated geopolitical period, but that should not in any case affect our cooperation in solving common problems,” said Igor Orlov, according to a press-release from the Arkhangelsk government.
“This cooperation is beyond big politics,” argues Orlov.
Head of Troms County, Line Fusdahl, supports the statement by the Governor in Arkhangelsk.
“We have developed the Barents cooperation over 20 years. This is a cooperation based on contacts between people living up here in the north. In times of international geopolitical trouble, I believe it is extra important to keep doors open for dialog,” says Line Fusdahl to BarentsObserver.
She says the Barents cooperation is perfect arena for east, west dialog.
Speaking about the important tasks for the cooperation, Governor Orlov highlights ecology, economic cooperation and transport as main focus for the regional cooperation between Russia, Finland, Norway and Sweden in the north.
Developing a route network for passenger air traffic in the Barents Region with flights between Arkhangelsk, Oulu, Murmansk, Tromsø and other destinations are under discussion. Today, there is only one regular east, west connection; Nordavia’s twice a week flights from Arkhangelsk, via Murmansk to Tromsø.
To give an extra boost to inter-regional cooperation, Arkhangelsk yesterday announced that they intend to sign a bi-lateral cooperation agreement with the County of Nordland in northern Norway later this fall.
