Arctic must be completely free of conflicts and foreign interference - Sechin

RAS AL-KHAIMAH. Dec 5 (Interfax) - The Arctic, with its wealth of oil and gas resources, must be completely free of conflicts and foreign interference given the strategic importance of this region for the energy security of all Eurasia, the CEO of Russian oil company Rosneft , Igor Sechin said.

"The Arctic has been playing a special role in the development of Russian resource potential in recent years. This region can rightfully be called the energy resources repository of not only Russia but the whole world," Sechin said at the XVII Verona Eurasian Economic Forum.

The Arctic now holds more than 20% of all the planet's unexplored oil and natural gas reserves, with 80% of these reserves located within the Russian sector of the region, Sechin said.