Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Friday defended Moscow's claims to territory in the Arctic, reiterating that the country's ongoing polar exploration is gathering scientic proof that the underwater range of mountains on the North Pole is connected to mainland Russia, the Interfax agency reported. To stake its symbolic claim, Russia had its polar researchers on Thursday plant a rust-resistant titanium Russian tricolour on the sea floor, according to DPA. Denmark, which has also laid claims to the 1,800 kilometre-long undersea Lomonosov mountain range, criticized the action as a "meaningless stunt for the media." The other polar states Canada, the United States and Norway also asserted their claims to the region. Lavrov discounted the criticism, saying he was "very surprised" at the reaction, adding that "explorers have always planted flags." It is estimated that there are 10 billion tons of oil and gas in the polar region worth more than 1 trillion dollars, Russia's 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.
