Harris and Trump make final push in must-win Pennsylvania    Drones and snipers on standby to protect Arizona vote-counters    India's Modi condemns violence after Canada temple incident    Elon Musk can keep giving $1m to voters, judge rules    Al Ahli extends perfect start with 5-1 victory over Al Shorta    Mitrovic's hat-trick leads Al Hilal to 3-0 victory over Esteghlal    Tourism Development Fund launches "Tourism Empowerment" programs to enhance sustainable growth of SMEs    Saudi crown prince, Tunisian president review bilateral relations in phone call    SFDA Chief visits premier biotechnology and medical firms in China    Al-Khereiji: Collective action in combating terrorism is a must for achieving stability and prosperity    Saudi Awwal Bank becomes the Kingdom's first bank obtaining ISO certification for quality management system in operations    10 cooperation agreements signed during Saudi-Turkish Business Forum in Istanbul    Saudi Arabia's non-oil revenues grow 6% in 9 months while Q3 budget posts SR30 billion deficit    Quincy Jones, titan of US music, dies aged 91    Enhancing zakat, tax, and customs compliance takes center stage at the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Conference 2024    Neymar expected to join Al Hilal squad for AFC clash against Esteghlal, says coach Jesus    Al Qadsiah secure 2-0 victory over Al Ettifaq in first Eastern Derby since 2021    Hidden sugars in Asia's baby food spark concerns    HONOR unveils pre-order of the stunning HONOR MagicBook Art 14 Featuring an ultra-slim design, HONOR Eye Comfort Display and AI Cross-OS WorkStation    Teri Garr, Young Frankenstein and Tootsie star, dies at 79    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Muted Eid celebrations for millions of Nigerian Muslims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Russian submersibles stake Arctic claim
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 02 - 08 - 2007


Russia staked a claim to untapped oil and gas
reserves in the North Pole Thursday as polar researchers in
submersibles planted a rust-resistant titanium Russian tricolour on
the sea floor, according to dpa.
Two Mir submersibles manned with Russian scientists dived to a
depth of 4,261 metres and planted the symbolic flag 30 years after
the first nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika made it to the North
Pole.
"The Arctic belongs to us," expedition leader Artur Chilingarov
said.
According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the goal of
the expedition is to collect evidence that the underwater range of
mountains on the North Pole is connected to mainland Russia.
The Russian minister added that the question of ownership has to
be re-established on the basis of international law.
According to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the
Sea, the polar states have rights to territory toward the North Pole
320 kilometres from their respective mainlands.
Russia hopes to add to its territory an additional 1.2 million
square kilometres, an area roughly twice the size of France.
The United States, Canada, Denmark and Norway also have claims to
the territory.
As global warming leads to the melting of the polar ice caps and
exploration technology improves, the possibility of exploiting the
possible oil and gas reserves under the Arctic has become more
realistic.
Russia's polar mission has reached fever pitch in recent days as
the nuclear-powered icebreaker Rossiya, research ship Akademik
Fyodorov, two submersibles and helicopters with some 100 team members
converged on the North Pole for the dive.
The explorers also left behind on the sea floor a capsule with a
message from Russia for future generations and a flag from the
Kremlin's United Russia party, Chilingarov said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had personally appointed
Chilingarov, head of the Association of Polar Explorers of the
Russian Federation and a lawmaker in the Duma, or parliament, to head
the expedition.
Russia has been increasing its expenditure on polar exploration
year on year, Chilingarov said.
With the polar mission that is due to continue until October 5,
the Kremlin is emphasizing its political direction ahead of
presidential elections in the winter.
Russia has claimed the waters between the Kola Peninsula and the
Bering Strait as its territory since Stalin's times.
The modern Mir nickel-steel-alloy submersibles on Thursday
effortlessly broke their previous record dive of 2 kilometres.
Canada and Denmark have also laid claims to the 1,800km-long and
3,700km-high undersea Lomonosov mountain range and have announced
surveys to back up their claims.
The range actually lies closer to Danish-administered Greenland
and Canada's Ellesmere Island that to the Russian mainland.
It is estimated that there are 10 billion tons of oil and gas in
the polar region worth more than 1 trillion dollars, Izvestiya
newspaper reported. There are also believed to be large reserves of
gold and diamonds.
Russia hopes to secure its claim to the Lomonosov range at the
United Nations by 2009.


Clic here to read the story from its source.