In a meeting with Norwegian Ambassador at Large Sverre Stubb on Monday, the governor underlined that her administration fully supports the ongoing process of elaborating a new guiding document for the Barents Cooperation, a press release reads.
“We highly value the work started by the Norwegian MFA on the preparation of a Kirkenes Declaration II”, Kovtun said, adding that the first Kirkenes Declaration from 1993 is a “unique document, which opened new opportunities for international cooperation.”
When taking over the chair of the Barents Euro-Arctric Council in October 2011, Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced the plans for a Kirkenes Declaration II, a document, which is to reflect new opportunities in regional cross-border cooperation. The Norwegian MFA is currently in the process of consulting regional stakeholders about the declaration, which is to be presented at the 20 years anniversary celebration in Kirkenes in 2013
Murmansk Oblast has been a key member of the Barents Cooperation since its establishment in 1993. Four countries and 13 regional entities, stretching from the Ural mountains to the Norwegian Sea, are part of the cooperation, which is Europe’s biggest region-building project in terms of land territory.
