On December 5-6, St. Petersburg played host to 2nd International Forum "The Arctic: the Present and the Future" with RIAC participation in the person of Program Director Timur Makhmutov and expert Andrey Zagorsky, department head at RAS Institute of World Economy and International Relations.
The event was carried out by Association of Russian Polar Explorers headed by Arthur Chilingarov, member of the Federation Council and Special Representative of Russian President on International Cooperation in the Arctic and Antarctic, with support of the Government of St. Petersburg.
On December 5-6, St. Petersburg played host to 2nd International Forum "The Arctic: the Present and the Future" with RIAC participation in the person of Program Director Timur Makhmutov and expert Andrey Zagorsky, department head at RAS Institute of World Economy and International Relations.
The event was carried out by Association of Russian Polar Explorers headed by Arthur Chilingarov, member of the Federation Council and Special Representative of Russian President on International Cooperation in the Arctic and Antarctic, with support of the Government of St. Petersburg.
The gathering of about 300 participants with polar exploration background was in fact a follow-up of the 2011 conference "The Arctic – a Territory of Cooperation" also held in St. Petersburg. The latest Forum was devoted to discussion of fresh solutions for integrated development of Russia's polar area. Opening addresses covering their vision of the state policies came from St, Petersburg Governor Georgy Poltavchenko, RAS Corresponding Member Arthur Chilingarov, Deputy Minister for Regional Development Sergey Darkin, Deputy Transportation Minister Sergey Aristov, Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Ecology Denis Khramov, Director of the Federal Agency for Nature Management Oversight Vladimir Kirillov, and Ambassador-at-Large and Russian Representative in the Arctic Council Anton Vassilyev. Other speakers focused on such aspects as development of polar territories, modernization of the transportation system and infrastructure, ecological security and economic activities including those related to future resource development.
In view of pending amendments to the federal law on state regulation of commercial shipping along the Northern Sea Route, participants accentuated the sea lane's future and prospects for restoring its administration. Transportation issues included polar aviation, tourism and safe transit for energy carriers. Particular attention was given to creation of comfortable human environment in harsh polar conditions through special healthcare and medical programs.
Another staple was international cooperation. On December 6, a separate roundtable was held with moderation by Andrey Zagorsky. The Arctic experts were offered RIAC's proposals toward the Roadmap for International Cooperation in the Arctic that defines successive steps and content of Russia's interaction with foreign partners in critical areas of international partnership in the Arctic in 2012-2018. The paper is intended to assist in realization of Russian interests through efficient international cooperation.
The proposals attracted a lot of attention, especially among those engaged in applied research with foreign participation. RIAC plans to go ahead with the Roadmap through incorporation of appropriate expert opinions.
Forum "The Arctic: the Present and the Future"
