Lavrov to discuss energy, visa arrangements at BEAC session.

KIRUNA, Sweden, October 12 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Minister of Foreign
Affairs Sergei Lavrov will discuss matters concerning energy efficiency,
environmental protection, and the streamlining of visa arrangements on
Wednesday within the framework of the 13th ministerial session of the
Barents-EuroArctic Council (BEAC) opening here on Wednesday.
Representatives of Sweden, which currently presides over BEAC, will
tell those present about the work done by them and then hand over the the
"reins of chairmanship" to Norway for the next two years. As a result of
the session, the sides are to adopt a joint communique.
Participants in the BEAC session are to discuss ways to strengthen
interaction with due regard for possibilities opening up after signing by
Russia and Norway of a Treaty on delimitation of sea expanses and
cooperation in the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean and an Agreement on
streamlining the procedure for reicprocal travel by residents of border
territories.
Russian diplomatic circles expect that a final communique will also
reflect such priorities as arrangements to facilitate reciprocal travel
by people and refinement of coordination between northern and regional
councils. A Russian Foreign Ministry official emphasized, "We expect that
the document (communique) will also put emphasis on advancement of
cooperation in such areas as raising energy efficiency; forming conditions
for sustainable and dynamic development of the region; protecting the
environment; minimizing negative consequences of climate change;
modernizing the transport infrastructure, and promoting the socio-economic
development of the indigenous ethnic groups".
BEAC, set up in 1993, is a forum for cooridinating international
cooperation in the Barents Sea. Russia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland,
and Finland are BEAC members on a permanent basis.
The northernmost Swedish city of Kiruna is situated at a distance of
almost 1,000 km from Stockholm and is 145 km beyond the Polar Circle. It
has a population of 23,000. The name of Kiruna, which is a twinned city of
Russia's Arkhangelsk, is of Sami origin: it originates from the Sani word
giron (white bird) which is represented in the Kiruna emblem together with
the alchemic sign of iron symbolizing the mining industry of the city.