Putin approves Russian Arctic policy objectives
MOSCOW. March 5 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved state Arctic policy for the period until 2035, under a decree published on the official legal information portal.
Russia's main national interests in the region are to ensure the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Russia, to preserve the Arctic as a territory of peace and of stable and mutually beneficial partnership, and to ensure the high quality of life and well-being for the Russian Arctic population, the decree said.
Other proclaimed main national interests in the region are developing Russia's Arctic zone as a strategic resource base and its rational use in order to boost economic growth; developing the Northern Sea Route as a globally competitive national transport communication route; and protecting the Arctic environment and the native living environment and traditional way of life of indigenous peoples.
According to the authors of the policy, its implementation will help ensure the steady development of the Russian Arctic zone, the rate of growth in living standards and household incomes (including those of minor ethnicities) above the national average, growth of the local gross regional product, create new jobs, and increase national and international freight transportation on the Northern Sea Route.
The policy would also protect the regional environment and the habitat and the traditional way of life of minor ethnicities, achieve a high level of cooperation with the Arctic states, and prevent Arctic hostilities against Russia.
In regard to military security, the main goals are to prevent the use of military force against Russia, increase the fighting capabilities of Russian troops and other military groups stationed in the Russian Arctic zone, and to keep them to combat-ready in order to repel aggression against Russia and its allies.
Such goals will involve optimizing a system for the overall monitoring of the air, the situation at sea and underwater, building and upgrading military infrastructure, and providing vital services for the troops and military units.