Canada concerned about Russia's Arctic intentions
1:00 AM
Posted: Saturday, September 20, 2008
TORONTO (AP) -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Friday that his government was taking steps to bolster Canada's presence in the Arctic amid concerns about Russian intentions in the frigid zone.
Harper charged that Russia has been showing signs of flaunting international norms in the region.
"That's obviously why were taking a range of measures including taking military measures to strengthen our sovereignty in the north," Harper told reporters in Quebec ahead of Canada's national election next month.
While Harper didn't elaborate on the military, he has vowed to build two new military facilities in the Arctic. Canada has released few details about the proposal.
The government also announced last month that it would firm up control of disputed Arctic waters with stricter registration requirements for ships sailing in the Northwest Passage, though Canada's control of the passage is widely disputed.
His comments follow a U.S. State Department statement this week that Russia's recent decision to delineate its southern Arctic boundary will have no standing in international law.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said that Russia must mark its Arctic territory to ensure its development and competitiveness in global markets.
Russia, the United States, Canada and other northern countries are trying to assert jurisdiction over the Arctic. Until recently, the oil, gas and minerals in the region have been considered too difficult to recover. But the dispute over who controls what has become more intense as energy demands increase in concert with a shrinking icecap that is opening up new resource development possibilities.
Several nations are gathering scientific evidence to support contentions that their country's continental shelf reaches the North Pole.
The countries recommitted themselves last May to settle competing claims under the U.N.'s Law of the Sea Convention.
"We will continue to make our claims and continue to provide the research necessary to back our claims and to work through the international process," Harper said. "We expect Russia to do the same."
Harper charged that Russia has been showing signs of flaunting international norms in the region.
"That's obviously why were taking a range of measures including taking military measures to strengthen our sovereignty in the north," Harper told reporters in Quebec ahead of Canada's national election next month.
While Harper didn't elaborate on the military, he has vowed to build two new military facilities in the Arctic. Canada has released few details about the proposal.
The government also announced last month that it would firm up control of disputed Arctic waters with stricter registration requirements for ships sailing in the Northwest Passage, though Canada's control of the passage is widely disputed.
His comments follow a U.S. State Department statement this week that Russia's recent decision to delineate its southern Arctic boundary will have no standing in international law.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said that Russia must mark its Arctic territory to ensure its development and competitiveness in global markets.
Russia, the United States, Canada and other northern countries are trying to assert jurisdiction over the Arctic. Until recently, the oil, gas and minerals in the region have been considered too difficult to recover. But the dispute over who controls what has become more intense as energy demands increase in concert with a shrinking icecap that is opening up new resource development possibilities.
Several nations are gathering scientific evidence to support contentions that their country's continental shelf reaches the North Pole.
The countries recommitted themselves last May to settle competing claims under the U.N.'s Law of the Sea Convention.
"We will continue to make our claims and continue to provide the research necessary to back our claims and to work through the international process," Harper said. "We expect Russia to do the same."
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