Russia Criticizes Arctic Frontiers
Arctic Frontiers 2020 with Manuel Barange, Jens Frølich Holte, Stephen Sackur, Sam Tan, Evan T. Bloom and Vladimir Ryabinin. (Photo: Terje Mortensen/Arctic Frontiers 2020)
In a Facebook post last Saturday, the Russian Embassy in Norway accused the Artic Frontiers Conference of blocking important Russian representatives. Now, however, the post has been removed and none of the parties wish to comment on the criticism.
In a Facebook post on 30 January, one that was later removed, the Russian Embassy in Norway accuses the Arctic Frontiers conference of blocking important Russian representatives.
“It is regrettable that organizers of the ‘Arctic Frontiers’ conference funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs have blocked the participation of Russia’s high representatives this year. Discussing issues about the Arctic without the biggest Arctic country represented is meaningless and not productive. We will meet with representatives from the North at other international events, their organizers understand the significance of our country for the Arctic.”
Neither CEO Anu Fredriksson of Arctic Frontiers nor the Russian embassy want to comment on the deleted post and argue that it is no longer relevant.
Russian minister withdrawing
On Monday, just a few hours before Arctic Frontiers opened, Fredriksson confirms that Alexey Chekunkov, Minister of Development of the Russian Far East and the Arctic, withdrew from the conference a while ago.
Having new and solid broadband cables in place will represent an enormous boost for the Arctic. – A new era, says Anu Fredrikson. (Photo: Alberto Grohovaz)
Lavrov was invited to attend the high-level panel with the Norwegian and the Icelandic Foreign Ministers at Arctic Frontiers.
Alexey Chekunkov, Minister of Development of the Russian Far East and the Arctic, was originally confirmed to conversations about the ocean.
Fredriksson says she does not know why he cancelled.
No comment
On a general level, however, Anu Fredriksson wants to point out that it is important for Arctic Frontiers, as an independent actor working for knowledge-based growth and development in all the Arctic, that all voices are represented.
“This year, we have worked really hard to reach this ambition. All countries of the Arctic are represented this year on several levels, and we do amongst others have Russian participation in this year’s researcher conference, which consists of 20 studies written by Russian researchers and presented in this year’s program”, Fredriksson says to High North News.
She also says that Arctic Frontiers Young this year is organized in four different locations: Murmansk and Arkhangelsk in Russia, and Bodø and Tromsø in Norway.
“Arctic Frontiers has worked closely with the Russian Geographical Society in organizing the Arctic Frontiers Student Forum. This year’s Arctic Frontiers Emerging Leaders program gathered participants from former years’ Emerging Leaders. Young Russian leaders were represented in this group too”, Fredriksson says.
The Norwegian article has been updated following new information from Arctic Frontiers.
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This English article is based on the updated Norwegian article and has been translated by HNN's Elisabeth Bergquist.