Asked by Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski about the new administration’s enhanced focus on the Arctic, Senator Clinton said that “President-elect Obama and I see that as one of those areas that offers a chance for cooperation,” Newsminer.com reports. “I think you will have a very receptive audience at the State Department in our administration”, she added.
The comments came as the Bush administration released its long-awaited new directive on the Arctic, the first update of the United States’ Arctic policy since 1994.
Clinton said she is aware of the rapid melting of sea ice in the Arctic. “When I heard that cruise ships are now going into Point Barrow, I was shocked,” said Clinton, who had been well-briefed on Arctic issues before the hearing, Newsminer.com writes.
The soon-to-be State Secretary agreed with Ms Murkowski that Senate ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is a top priority.
The USA is the only of the five countries bordering the Arctic, which has not ratified the convention. George W. Bush as one of his last moves as president last week issued a directive of the Arctic. The document has been prepared by officials from several federal agencies, including the Departments of State, Defense and Homeland Security.
Read the document here
Read also:
USA takes on Arctic interests 13 January 2008
