Russia would like to continue regular data exchanges on the status of the Arctic climate and environment with other countries and will continue to organize international expeditions to study the regional environment, Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev told RIA Novosti.

On August 30-September 1, the nuclear powered icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy hosted the sixth annual international meeting for representatives of the Arctic Council states, the Council's observer states and foreign researchers.

The council countries are working to restore natural ecosystems to a level that can guarantee environmental stability and to create a responsible attitude towards the environment, Mr Patrushev said after the meeting. Russia in particular has introduced much tougher environmental standards for economic activity in the Russian Arctic, he added.

Work is also underway to redress accumulated environmental damage. Waste is mostly being removed from six islands of the Franz Josef Land Archipelago where  polar meteorological stations, military bases and airfields were deployed in the Soviet era and in the northern sector of Novaya Zemlya, he noted.

Russia advocates continued regular data exchanges on the status of the Arctic climate and environment, he concluded.