Arctic Council in the RIAC Focus

On May 29, Russian International Affairs Council held working conference “Regional Cooperation in the Arctic: the Arctic Council”, a follow-up to discussions for preparation of the annual report on international cooperation in the Arctic Region. The event was attended by representatives of Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russian Research Institute for Fisheries and Oceanography, RAS Institute for European Studies, RAS Institute of World Economy and International Relations, and MGIMO-University.

On May 29, Russian International Affairs Council held working conference “Regional Cooperation in the Arctic: the Arctic Council”, a follow-up to discussions for preparation of the annual report on international cooperation in the Arctic Region.

The event was attended by representatives of Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russian Research Institute for Fisheries and Oceanography, RAS Institute for European Studies, RAS Institute of World Economy and International Relations, and MGIMO-University.

The conference was opened by RIAC Deputy Program Director Timur Makhmutov and moderated by Andrey Zagorsky, head of Nonproliferation and Arms Control Sector of International Security Center at RAS Institute of World Economy and International Relations.

Ambassador-at-Large Anton Vassilyev, Russian envoy to the Arctic Council spoke first to provide detailed comments on the issue and the account of the Arctic Council ministerial in Swedish Kiruna on May 15. Ambassador Vassilyev also dwelled upon the organization’s future tasks with special attention to the expanded group of its observers.

The participants exchanged views on the Arctic Council activities, and also suggested advice on advancement of Russia’s national interests in the Arctic Council. The ideas sounded in the debate are to be incorporated in the coming report on the Arctic cooperation.