The international Arctic Council was spearheaded by Finland in 1996 with a view to protect the unique Arctic nature. To date, it includes eight countries: Russia, Sweden, Iceland, Canada, Norway, Finland, Denmark, and the U.S., but six indigenous peoples' organizations also make their contributions. The Council members have hammered out several essential conventions, such as the Agreement on Cooperation on Aeronautical and Maritime Search and the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy. Moreover, an Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response in the Arctic is just about to be signed.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov lauded the progress made by the Council.
"We have a common feeling that the Arctic Council does correct things. We are on our way to the transformation of this structure into an interstate organization. It adopts legally binding documents," Sergey Lavrov noted at a summit in Sweden.
The chairmanship of the Arctic Council rotates among the eight Arctic states. Canada is to chair the Council in 2013. Russia was the first to be at the helm in 2004-2006.
