5 nations chart Arctic course

Published: May 29, 2008 at 12:54 AM

ILULISSAT, Greenland, May 29 (UPI) -- The five nations bordering the Arctic region Wednesday outlined how they will deal with oil and mineral exploration, the environment and other issues there.

Meeting in Ilulissat, Greenland, the representatives of Canada, Russia, the United States, Norway and Denmark issued the Illulissat Declaration, which intones that the Arctic Ocean "stands at the threshold of significant changes," Canwest News Service reported.

"Climate change and the melting of ice have a potential impact on vulnerable ecosystems, the livelihoods of local inhabitants and indigenous communities, and the potential exploitation of natural resources," the group's document said. "By virtue of their sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in large areas of the Arctic Ocean, the five coastal states are in a unique position to address these possibilities and challenges."

The document goes on to say the nations oppose any international attempt to govern the Arctic polar region, along the lines of Antarctica.

In a statement, The New York Times reported, Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moller said the five nations have "politically committed" to resolve their differences in the region through negotiations.

"And thus we have hopefully, once and for all, killed all the myths of a 'race to the North Pole.' The rules are in place. And the five states have now declared that they will abide by them," Moller said.

© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
Grain futures mixed Tuesday (19 min)
Poll: Women ignoring new mammogram advice (24 min)
Toyota Tundra pickup trucks recalled (26 min)
Price of crude oil slides slightly (39 min)
UPI NewsTrack Business
Device enables early skin tumor detection
Chauffeur charged with Warhol box theft
fark
Not news: Babysitter goes drunk driving. News: He had a seven year with him. FARK: The kid was on...
Celebrated trial lawyer died driving unsafe and uncrashworthy SUV on negligently designed and maintained...
Even the judge agrees there's nothing wrong with a little tongue
That Kentucky census worker undressed himself, wrote "fed" on his chest, bound himself in duct tape...
Drew Curtis on possible partnerships between Fark and other media outlets: "I can't go into any...
NYT, last year: "Check out these e-mails hacked from a Palin campaign staffer." Last week: "ClimateGate?...