Russian presidential envoy Ivanov calls for tough environmental regulations for civilian ships passing via Northern Sea Route

MOSCOW. Aug 30 (Interfax) - Environmental and ecological regulations should be the toughest in order to minimize the emergence of various problems in the Arctic, Russian Special Presidential Envoy for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport Sergei Ivanov said.

"The Arctic is very vulnerable, it is much more vulnerable than the waters of other seas and oceans, and if, God forbid, something happens and there is an oil spill, for example, then there are two points: first, it is up to Russia to clean it up, not the country whose tanker allowed the spill. And secondly, it is necessary to have, on the one hand, all rescue means - this has yet to be done," Ivanov said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 (VGTRK) television channel on Tuesday.

At the same time, he noted that the Russian Emergencies Ministry still has to get to the Arctic coast, to clean up emergencies and their aftermath in the shortest possible time.

Ivanov believes that environmental and ecological regulations should be the strictest.

"No vessel, not even a warship may pass via the Northern Sea Route, we have already dealt with the military, there is a legislative framework which governs the passage of foreign warships via the Northern Sea Route, there is already some clarity here, but we have yet [to draw up legislation] regarding civilian ships," the Russian special presidential envoy said.

The Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is dealing with this issue, and regulations, which will prevent the emergence of various environmental problems as strictly as possible, should be stipulated, Ivanov said.