Mikhail Slipenchyuk
© RIA Novosti. Sergey Pyatakov

Slipenchyuk: the Arctic Commission will focus on the Northern Sea Route

Mikhail Slipenchyuk, deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Natural Resources, Nature Management and Environmental Protection, and vice president of the Polar Explorers Association, said the Commission on Arctic Development that is being established by the Russian government should primarily focus on defense issues and the development of the Northern Sea Route.

The Arctic Commission headed by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin will be established within a month.

"Probably, the commission will start by organizing the presence of Russia's defenses in the Arctic. Next it will establish communications and navigation systems. Its third task will be to develop the Northern Sea Route and supervise its operation. Fourth, it will create conditions for the comprehensive development of the Arctic territories," Slipenchyuk said.

Slipenchyuk said the decision to form the Arctic Commission is an important step towards establishing a management system for the Arctic.