agencies | 30. 03. 2017 to 10: 11h

http://www.blic.rs/vesti/svet/putin-na-arktiku-vojska-mora-da-cuva-severni-pol-vredan-je-30000-milijardi-dolara/6q7kx49

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the Ministry of Defense of Russia and the Federal Security Service to protect the national interests of Russia in the Arctic.

– Ministry of Defense, Federal Security Service and its border units should implement plans to secure national interests in terms of defense capabilities of the country, but also to protect our interests in the Arctic and the normal functioning of the Northern Sea Route – said Putin at a meeting on the development of the Arctic.

Natural sources, which are important for the economy of Russia are concentrated in this region, said Putin, adding that the value of the raw materials in the Arctic is estimated at 30 trillion (thousand billion) dollars.

Russian President also stressed that it is necessary to take full advantage of opportunities for international cooperation in the Arctic.

– There is very important interest to work with us and this certainly needs to step up the real joint projects. I would ask the Government of Russia to speed up the completion of the new edition of the State Program of socio-economic development of the Arctic region ‘, said he.

Putin also stressed the need to provide new approaches “for the development of public-private partnerships in the implementation of major infrastructure projects, including the development of the continental threshold and increase the competitiveness of the Northern Sea Route”. According to him, Russia is ready for joint development of the Arctic with foreign partners.

– We are open to broad cooperation with other countries for the realization of large-scale mutually beneficial projects – from the development of natural resources and the development of global transport corridors to science and ecology – said, adding that Russia is already engaged in joint projects with foreign companies such as projects “Jamal”, “Sakhalin 1” and “Sakhalin 2”.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, speaking on the extent and natural resources in the Arctic, has confirmed the need to create an instrument of its development. He recalled that the program, which was approved in 2014 generally has an analytical character and require substantial changes.

He recalled that the program, which was approved in 2014 generally has an analytical character and require substantial changes.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in turn that the Ministry will take into account the additional possibility of objects in the Arctic zone.

Putin on March 29 came to the island country Aleksandrina archipelago of Franz Josef Land.

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IZAKOVIC