|
|
 |
Canadian PM Heads to Arctic
Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper has embarked on a three-day Arctic tour to announce the location for the country’s first Artic military base, BBC News reported Thursday.
Mr. Harper’s trip does not have direct connection with Russia’s recent mission to the region, BBC News said. British journalists report that the prime minister’s trip was planned months ago, though it took on fresh significance after Moscow’s actions.
Stephen Harper’s spokesman said Canada has “an aggressive Arctic agenda.” The Canadian leader earlier said that the country’s north-west would be protected by six patrol ships.
A Russian expedition last week planted a flag on the seabed 4,200 meters below the North Pole. The Russian explorers were to prove that Russia’s continental shelf extends to the polar cap and its Mendeleev and Lomonosov ranges and therefore must be considered Russia’s territory. This could give Russia a claim to the untapped oil, gas and mineral resources in the vast area. Artur Chilingarov, head of the expedition, said back in Moscow that Arctic “has always been Russian territory, and it will be.”
The move drew criticism from the United States and Canada. Britain, Denmark and even Abkhazia have launched its claim to Arctic.
www.kommersant.com
|
|
|
