From May 14 to May 15 at the invitation of the Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø Dr. Ivan V. Bunik, PhD, adjunct professor of School of Governments and International Affairs MGIMO University, attorney-at-law at Moscow Law Firm “Timofeev, Vahrenwald and Partners” took part in the international conference devoted to navigation in the Arctic.

During the conference Canadian, Norwegian and Russian experts discussed the possibility of harmonization of construction and implementation by five Arctic states of the rules of international law applicable to navigation in the Arctic Ocean, especially taking into account the protest diplomatic notes of the United States against the Canadian statutory regime of navigation in the Northwest Passage and the Russian legislation on navigation along the Northern Sea Route.

Dr. Ivan V. Bunik gave a speech on the topic “Unresolved problems in regulation of shipping in the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation”. He touched upon the issue of the relation between Russian national legislation on the Arctic navigation and applicable international law. Particularly, this refers to the lawfulness of establishing national legislation in the area, as well as its applicability to sovereign immune vessels.

The speaker noted that for Russia similarly to other coastal states, Arctic region and, particularly, Northern Sea Route does not, however, serve for commercial and transportation purposes only, but it has also presented huge strategic and defense importance. These factors as well as Russia’s commitment to preservation of the fragile marine ecosystem in the area caused this country to develop a system of international law arguments which would reserve its right to regulate navigation in its Arctic Zone.

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