Russia hoping to use its Arctic resource also in interests of partners - deputy FM

MURMANSK. Aug 13 (Interfax) - Russia is hoping to use its Arctic resource both in the national interests and in cooperation with partners, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said.

"Of course, we very much hope that we will be able to use our Arctic resource both in our own interests and in the interests of interaction with our partners, which will make us and them stronger in the increasingly competitive global economic and political environment," Grushko said at the Fourth Arctic - Regions Forum.

"We [Russia] are happy that our efforts in the Arctic are attracting international partners. We can see that our Chinese and Indian colleagues are the most enthusiastic," he said.

"There are no major disputable issues in the Arctic. The shelf has been divided," Grushko said.

"From our point of view, the Arctic as a region should remain a zone of low tensions, and we are doing everything to keep it this way," he said.

It is about not just oil, gas and rare earth resources of the Arctic but also "many other things crucial for the sustainable development of the Russian economy and needed for the global economic advancement," Grushko said.