Putin calls for balancing Arctic economic operations, ecology
SALEKHARD. Sept 25 (Interfax) - There must be a balance between economic operations and environmental conservation in Arctic development projects, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the third international forum, "The Arctic - Territory of Dialogue".
"Obviously, environmental conservation should a the priority and the defining principle of Arctic development efforts. Economic operations, human presence and environmental protection must be balanced," he said.
"This is especially important in the case of Arctic, which is home to fragile and vulnerable ecosystems and a sensitive climate that determines the wellbeing of the entire planet to a large degree," the Russian president said.
"In fact, a new page is opening in Arctic history - this is an epoch of industrial breakthrough and economic and infrastructural boom," he said.
"Intensive survey and development of new gas and oil deposits and other resources are underway in the Russian Arctic regions. Large transportation and energy facilities are under construction and the Northern Sea Route is being revived," the president said.
Some companies may be denied the right to drill for oil in the Arctic, Putin said. "The right to drill for oil through the ice shield will be given only to those companies which possess the most advanced technologies and, naturally, can financially support their operations," the Russian president said.
"We will continue our extensive project of "spring cleaning" in the Arctic," he said.
The federal budget allotted 1.42 billion rubles for cleaning the Arctic in 2011-2013, Putin said.