Arctic Conference

• 14.04.2011
• 2564

On April 12-13 the international conference «Russia and Regional Cooperation in the Arctic» took place in Murmansk. The main objective of the conference was to discuss the Russian Arctic strategy and opportunities for regional cooperation in the Arctic region.

The Conference was organized by Murmansk State Humanities University (MSHU), Institute for Universal History of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IUH RAS), Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) of the MFA of Russia (MGIMO University), Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies (IFS).

This conference is the second event of this type conducted within the international scientific — research project «Geopolitics in the High North», launched in 2008

Rector of MSHU, Professor AM Sergeev, opening the conference, stressed the importance of a comprehensive understanding of Arctic issues, including the aspect of humanities. The Conference gathered scientists and international experts from Russia, Norway, Germany, Canada and the USA.

Participants discussed issues relevant to the Arctic countries: political security in the North, prevention of emergency situations in the Arctic, exploration of energy resources of the Arctic shelf, transportation in the Arctic, and the problem of indigenous peoples’ involvement in the socio-economic processes. The conference highlighted the need for humanitarian cooperation in the Arctic, without which it would be impossible to develop a competent strategy for the development of this region.