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More countries are
joining in the battle for the Arctic. A Danish scientific
expedition left for the North Pole yesterday with the intention of
disputing Russian claims on the underwater Lomonosov Ridge.
In Moscow, a project to create a Russian Arctic National Park was
hastily launched to beef up the Russian presence near the disputed
area. Washington as reacted as well. The icebreaker Healy has
been dispatched to join a research group that has already been
studying the Arctic Ocean floor for four years.
“Preliminary findings
are promising,” stated Danish Minister of Science, Technology and
Innovation Helge Sander. “The North Pole may become Danish
territory.” The Lomrog (Lomonosov Ridge off Greenland) departed
yesterday from the Norwegian port of Tromse with 40 scientists
determined to show that the ridge is a continuation of Greenland.
Sander added that “The fact that the expedition is taking place
immediately after the Russian expedition is a coincidence. The
expedition was prepared in advance.”
The Russian Arctic
National Park has already been given the approval of ecologists at
Rosprirodnadzor, the federal resources management agency, and is
planned to be ready by 2010. It will consist of 8.5 million
hectares, including 6.1 million hectares of territorial waters, as
well as the Franz Josef Archipelago, Victoria Island and the
northern part of the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago. The creation of the
park was foreseen in a 2001 government resolution, but its sudden
implementation is hardly coincidental. Last week, Canadian Prime
Minister Stephen Harper announced plans to expand the Nahanni
National Park Reserve significantly and grant the northern
territories special status.
The American Harper's
Magazine revealed that an American research group has been
preparing for that country's application to the UN. The icebreaker
Healy has been sent to reinforce the group's efforts, at a
cost of $100,000 per day to operate.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Aug. 13, 2007
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