Moscow downplays purpose of Arctic mission

MOSCOW, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- The Russian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that current efforts to better define the Arctic boundary aren't related to any territorial claims.

Russia's new interest in the Arctic stems from a desire by the Russian Security Council to develop its current Arctic zone and isn't a prelude to any new claims on energy resources, the Foreign Ministry said.

"What was being discussed by the Security Council was a new federal law that would clearly define the (regions) of the Russian Federation that form the country's Arctic zone, which will benefit from social-economic development measures," the statement said.

The RIA Novosti news service said Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has called for a new "frontier law" for its Arctic economic zone. Russia is one of five nations with economic zones that were created under international law.