The conference, which was organized on the initiative of the Murmansk regional Duma, was held in Murmansk and was attended by representatives from all the countries in the Region.
The event focused on the development of regional cooperation in the period 2010-2013.
The Barents cooperation has been successfully developing for many years. That is largely thanks to cooperation between regional and national levels.
Runar Sjaastad, the Head of Finnmark County Council, pointed out that on the Norwegian side the northern Norwegian county of Finnmark has been a key stakeholder in the cross-border cooperation.
- Norway meets Russia in Finnmark, and this is where many challenges in Norway’s bilateral cooperation with Russia emerge. Finnmark is therefore raising the issues to the national level and, as such, is central in setting the topics for international cooperation. This attitude we will continue to have in the years to come.- he underlined.
Sustainable environmental development is a key priority in the Barents Region for 2010-13, many of the participants at the event stressed.
- The ecosystem is a basis for our existence, for our lives, - said Bente Christiansen, the chairperson of working group of Barents Regional Council on environment issues, Sweden.
In order ”not to solve a problem by creating another“, we should wisely manage the reaches of the Region, - she added.
This will have a positive influence on all spheres prioritized by Barents cooperation – development of tourism, cross-border contacts, indigenous peoples issues, development of infrastructure, businesses etc.
The climate change makes Arctic nature even more vulnerable. There is a threat to biological diversity as species move from places where they used to live due to shrinking habitats, experts say the population of Arctic animals may be diminished by 30 percent in the years to come. Also there have been registered the first cases of cannibalism among polar bears ever.
On the other hand the change of temperatures opens up new opportunities for cooperation, such as development of polar tourism, use of sea transport routes and hydrocarbon deposits management.
- The year of 2010 is a year of growing interest to the Arctic, - presumes the deputy of State Duma of Russia, Mr.Nenashev.
He told that Russia intends to build up its scientific presence in the Arctic. Currently the Government of Murmansk studies the possibility to open Centre for Arctic researches in Murmansk. At the same time Rovaniemi is planning to become the site for an EU Arctic Information Centre.
