The Krasnoyarsk Territory has taken over the rotating two-year presidency of the Northern Forum, an organization set up to support sustainable development of northern areas, Anastasia Bozhedonova, deputy executive director of the non-profit organization, said.

Bozhedonova was speaking on the sidelines of the 12^th  General Assembly of the Northern Forum, which opened on November 4 in the capital of Yakutia, which had held the organization's presidency for two consecutive terms.

"The General Assembly elects the new region that will preside in the forum, and it will be the Krasnoyarsk Territory. Governor Viktor Tolokonsky will take over as chairman of the organization," Bozhedonova said. "This is a huge achievement for Russia. Many countries such as Canada and the United States have been seeking presidency in the organization."

The General Assembly is also considering climate change, pollution in the Arctic and cultural contacts between Northern peoples.

Attending the meeting are representatives of Iceland, Norway, the United States, Finland, France, Switzerland, South Korea, Japan, the Arkhangelsk and Murmansk regions, the Khabarovsk Territory, and the Khanty-Mansi, Chukotka and Yamal-Nenets autonomous areas.

The Northern Forum is a non-profit international organization that consists of 18 regions from eight countries. It was set up in Anchorage, Alaska, in 1990.