First session held during Russia’s Chairmanship of the Arctic Council

On 29–30 June 2021, Moscow hosted the first session under Russia’s Chairmanship of the Arctic Council’s (AC) Committee of Senior Officials (CSO).

The event was held in a combined in-person and remote format at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) under the President of the Russian Federation. The meeting participants were welcomed by the Republic’s head A.S. Nikolaev.

During the two-day session, the Council’s member countries and permanent participants from organizations of indigenous peoples of the North discussed the modalities for joint work to fulfil the instructions of ministers of foreign affairs reflected in the Reykjavik Declaration of the AC, as well as the initial steps in achieving the priority goals of the AC’s Strategic Plan approved in May this year. Representatives of personnel and expert groups of the Article Council informed the delegation heads about the AC’s research and design activities planned for 2021–2023.

Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation on the climate of the north Kh. Edelgeriev, head of Rosgidromet I.A. Shumakov, and representatives of the Russian Ministry for Natural Resources and Ministry for Development of the East, and Rostourism set forth the approaches to the key aspects of the programme for the Russian Chairmanship of the Artic Council in 2021–2023.

According to Nikolay Korchunov, Chairman of the CSO AC and Ambassador-at-large of Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “Promotion of the Arctic’s sustainable development, expansion of synergetic collaboration with other regional structures, realisation of the Arctic Council’s strategic vision and responsible management of the region require consolidation of the efforts of all parties to international Arctic co-operation, including Arctic states, “permanent participants” and observers at the AC. The session confirmed the common disposition toward constructive collaboration in the interests of peaceful, progressive and sustainable development of the polar regions”.

The next CSO meeting and the plenary session of the Arctic Council are to be held in Salekhard in November 2021.

Source: Secretariat of the Arctic Council

Quality photographs are available from the Roscongress photobank: Day 1, Day 2.