Стр. 8 - V

Электронное приложение к журналу «Международная жизнь»
Author : A. Moiseev
Prorector, Russian Customs Academy, Vice President, Russian Association of International Law, Pro-
fessor, Diplomatic Academy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Doctor of Sciences
(Law), Doctor of Law, Australia
THE ARCTIC REGION attracts the attention of a far larger num-
ber of states than those that are adjacent to it. The massive melting
of Arctic ice provides broad opportunities for opening new maritime
routes and for prospecting for natural resources, and the develop-
ment of energy and trade; it is also fraught with a serious conflict in
the Arctic.
The Arctic is becoming an object of territorial, resource and mili-
tary-strategic interests. The global economy's dependence on energy
resources is another factor stimulating the military and political lead-
ership in a number of countries to develop new strategies to uphold
their national interests in the Arctic.
Russia's bid to extend the outer limits of the adjacent continental shelf in the Barents Sea. the
Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk beyond 200 nautical miles from Siberia to the North Pole is
based on the premise that the Lomonosov ridge and the Mendeleyev ridge are the natural pro-
longation of the East Siberian continental platform, not oceanic formations of the Arctic Ocean.
Russia has the world's only nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet, controls the Northern Sea Route
and participates in all international organizations and multilateral international cooperation for-
mats in the Arctic.
By now, submissions to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, in addition
to Russia have been presented by Norway, Denmark and Canada. The United States is also
preparing to send its submission immediately after the Convention is ratified.
Russia upholds its right to sea areas in the Arctic north of the Russian coast to the North Pole
although many states act on the premise that Russia can only have rights to its territorial waters
within 12 nautical miles of land territory, while the rest of the ocean is regarded as international
waters.
The presence of the NATO military factor in the Arctic, an area of peaceful collaboration and
economic cooperation, raises further questions. Even before the Ukraine crisis broke out, during
the last several decades, the nature of relations between Russia and NATO evolved as a "difficult
partnership" through ups and downs.
Regarding Russian activity in the Arctic, the United States believes that it acts legitimately in
seeking to prove the legitimacy of its claims to the resource-rich Arctic shelf but warns that it
is preparing to challenge the Russian claims, including at the UN Commission on the Limits of
the Continental Shelf after the Convention is ratified.
Russia and Canada do not have any strong disagreements on border issues. Both countries' claims
Arctic Security: International Law Aspects