Navy CIC promised to declassify information of Arctic shelf frontiers
31.03.2010 Demarcation of Russian continental shelf in Arctic is 80% completed, informed ITAR-TASS referring to Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky, Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief. He added that upon termination of these works Russian defense ministry would decide what hydrographic information to declassify.
Nevertheless, some data will remain classified, pointed out Vysotsky. This is related to 'special areas' and particular sea lanes. According to the admiral, by June 10 Russian Navy will be ready to carry out its part of demarcation expedition of Russian continental shelf in Arctic.
As it was previously reported, 1.5 bln RUR has been appropriated in 2010 to delineate external frontier of Russian continental shelf. Draft claim on Russia's expanded shelf area in the Sea of Okhotsk was prepared as early as 2009.
Arctic continental shelf area is rich in mineral resources, particularly in hydrocarbons. One and half year ago Russian president Dmitry Medvedev told about prospects to turn the Arctic into Russia's resource base of the 21st century. In this connection Russian continental shelf frontier should be formalized at the earliest date, stated the president then.
Source: Lenta.Ru, photo: Vladimir Vysotsky (www.mil.ru)