Foreign Minister Lavrov said Russia is ready to cooperate in the Arctic.

vn.sputniknews.com• May 8, 2019 10:21

Moscow is open to broad cooperation in the Arctic, there is no reason for conflicts in the region, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said on Tuesday.

"Russia is ready for the widest possible cooperation in the Arctic, where, as we have repeatedly stressed, there is no reason for conflict, for the use of military means to resolve any problems that arise there. Existing international law allows us to ensure the national interests of all Arctic states and countries outside the region," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stressed at the 11th ministerial meeting of the Arctic Council.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Photo: AFP

"Russia occupies almost a third of the Arctic, we consider it a space of peace, stability, and cooperation. I am pleased that all partners in the Arctic Council adhere to a similar policy. We consider this a guarantee of successful development in the far north, because it is in the Arctic that states bear special responsibility for what is happening here," the Russian Foreign Minister said.

He reiterated that Russia's strategic goal remains to ensure the region's sustainable development in three aspects: economic, natural and social preservation according to high environmental standards while respecting the interests of the people living there.