Disarmament
Issues
Arctic Region
“Changes in the Arctic Region call for solutions to manifold and urgent challenges in the realm of security policies. One must secure that the Arctic Region will continue to be an area of peaceful cooperation, based on rules of International Law. It is crucial to repress renewed military build-up after the détente, which has marked relations between the Arctic Region States after the end of the cold war.
Increasing exploitation of oil and gas resources, metals and fish population in the Arctic, together with maritime activities, constitute many dangers that need to be confronted. All these activities can pose a threat to the environment. The economic viability of the Arctic States and the security of the inhabitants are endangered, unless special vigilance is exercised. Environmental safety of the region is of vital interest for the Icelandic people, considering that sustainable exploitation of the resources of land and sea provides the nation's subsistence to a large extent.
The security interests of the people of Iceland are best secured with transnational collaboration of all States concerned. The collaboration of the Arctic States within the Arctic Council, on increase control, prevention measures and more efficient stand-by equipment in case of accidents and environmental hazards, plays an important role in this regard.”
(From the Report of the Minister for Foreign Affairs: Iceland and the Arctic Region, Reykjavík, April 2009.)
The Sea-Bed Treaty of 1971 bans the emplacement of Weapons of Mass Destruction on and in the ocean floor, including under the North Pole. Organisations, for example Canadian Pugwash, have called for the elaboration of a Treaty on an Arctic Nuclear-Weapon Free Zone.
References
Iceland and the Arctic Region, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Reykjavík, April 2009.
Links
Sea-Bed TreatyUpdated: 08/10 | Send comments here | Abbreviations