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Diana Wallis responds to meeting of 'Arctic Five'
May 28, 2008 6:01 PM
Commenting on the meeting of officials of the five Arctic coastal countries in Greenland this week, Diana Wallis MEP, Vice President of the European Parlaiment responsible for Arctic matters said:
"This is a very strange way of discussing what is a pan-Arctic issue or indeed an international issue. It could be indicative of the self-interest of the countries concerned - I hope this is not the case.
"For example, why have not Finland, Sweden and Iceland been invited, countries which are also full Arctic Council Member states? Also, one might question the absence of an EU element too given the Arctic content of the Maritime Policy.
"The five countries (USA, Canada, Russia, Norway and Denmark) meeting in Ilulissat in Greenland are looking at the sufficiency of the UN Charter.
"The developments in the Arctic potentially affect all citizens of the globe; exclusive meetings are not a good signal as a starting point."
Diana Wallis MEP recently co-hosted a meeting In Brussels to look at the issue of Arctic governance:
"One of the conclusions of the Brussels meeting was that international coordination is needed to address the Arctic problems, particularly partnerships to non-Arctic states. The question is how can this be developed with meetings of only part of the Arctic present?"
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