Alexander Stubb, famous in the Barents Region for branding the north as the world´s most sexy region, is put on track to take over after Jyrki Katainen.
Oslo asks Moscow for an explanation after BarentsObserver earlier today reported that Russia’s sanctioned Deputy Prime Minister suddenly appeared on Svalbard.
Conservative leader Erna Solberg forms a minority government with the Progress party with parliament backing from the Liberals and Christian Democrats based on an agreement not to open for controversial Arctic oil drilling.
Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Stubb, believes in a free trade area, in which goods would move between Russia and the EU without tariffs. - I am the generation for whom there has been a Russia. I remember the Soviet Union mainly as a magnificent hockey team, with CCCP written on their shirts, says Stubb and underlines that his personal goal is to link Russia more closely to the European system.
Acting city Mayor of Arkhangelsk Viktor Pavlenko has appointed Yuri Shaulov as acting Vice Mayor for construction. The appointment is based on a recommendation from regional Governor Ilya Mikhalchuk. Yuri Shaulov comes from a post in the Russian presidential administration.
Viktor Pavlenko was on Sunday inagurated in the post as new city mayor of Arkhangelsk. In the ceremony, he was officially handed over the city powers from regional Governor Ilya Mikhalchuk.
-There are five countries participating in the race for the Arctic, and we are lagging behind all of them, U.S. congressman Rick Larsen said in a congress hearing this week.
While Sweden and the UK have suggested freezing EU-Russia partnership treaty and visa-free travel talks, keeping Russia out of the WTO and boycotting the 2014 winter Olympics in Russia following the crisis in Georgia, other countries highlight the need for enhanced dialogue and cooperation with the country.
The Russian government has initiated the elaboration of federal Law on the Arctic. In addition, the government wants to introduce new administrative borders for its Arctic zone.
Norwegian General Consul in Murmansk, Jon Fredriksen, today confirmed that Russian authorities have presented an official proposal on how to open up for visa-free travel in the border areas between Norway and Russia.
Governor of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Ilya Mikhalchuk admits that the international financial crisis could have negative influence on the region’s 2009 budget. The administration is now preparing a number of anti-crisis measures, he says.
Among the last moves of the outgoing Bush administration will be the issuing of a directive on the Arctic, White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe confirms.
