MOSCOW, June 1-RIA Novosti. Nikolai Korchunov, the Foreign Ministry's Ambassador-at-large and a senior official of the Arctic Council, explained in an interview with RIA Novosti why Russia is restoring military infrastructure in the Arctic.
Earlier, NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said that the alliance will discuss the build-up of the country's military capabilities in the Arctic at the June summit. According to her, Russia is expanding its military potential there more than at any time since the Cold War.
In particular, the diplomat said, the Arctic zone produces more than ten percent of GDP and more than twenty percent of Russia's exports.
In addition, Moscow expects to create safe conditions for the implementation of large-scale economic projects and ensure the progressive socio-economic development of the Arctic zone, the agency's interlocutor explained.
According to him, representatives of the Russian Federation have repeatedly stated that its military activity in the Arctic does not violate any international obligations and does not pose a threat to the security of other Arctic states.
