RF-Norwegian agt on delimitation of sea waters and Arctic coop takes

MOSCOW, July 7 (Itar-Tass) -- The Russian-Norwegian agreement on the
delimitation of sea waters and cooperation in the Barents Sea and the
Arctic Ocean will officially take effect on Thursday, July 7.
The agreement signed by the foreign ministers of the two countries in
Murmansk on September 15, 2010 and ratified by the national parliaments
put a period to the 40-year-long negotiations between the neighbouring
states.
The document opens up opportunities for unhindered development of
offshore oil and gas fields in the Arctic in an area of 175,000 square
kilometres and lays down the terms of cooperation in the field of fishing.
Russia will take control of the biggest part of the disputable area --
slightly more than 860,000 square kilometres. Norway will control about
510,000 square kilometres.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov believes that "the agreement is
absolutely mutually advantageous, fair and consistent with all norms of
international law".
"Fishermen will be able to fish as they have been doing all this time.
In addition, we will get new broad opportunities for strengthening
strategic partnership in the oil and gas sector as well as cooperation in
related industries such as transport and shipbuilding," he said.
He noted that the entry into force of the agreement "underscores one
more time that all questions in the North can be resolved peaceably,
without interference of outside forces".
Russia and Norway will continue to develop the region in
environmentally sustainable manner, Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs
Jonas Gahr Stoere said.