Sweden soon to chair Arctic Council

"Our ambition during these two years is to focus on the subject matter itself, not administrative issues," said Mr Bildt when opening the seminar.

The Presidency starts with a meeting of Arctic country foreign ministers in Nuuk in Greenland on 12 May. In the Arctic cooperation Sweden can contribute unique research competence in the form of the icebreaker Oden, which can survey the Arctic seabed better than any other vessel. Right now, major Swedish investments are being made in Arctic technology. Sweden is also hoping to involve more countries in extending environmental awareness regarding the North Pole and intensifying work to prevent pollution of the unique Arctic environment.

"But we should also be aware that this is an organisation whose decisions are based on unanimity between countries that are keen to protect their own sovereignty," said Mr Bildt in his address.

Arctic issues higher on the agenda

Arctic Ambassador Gustaf Lind is leading the Arctic work in the Swedish Government Offices and Ministry for Foreign Affairs. With the Swedish Presidency fresh in memory - Ambassador Lind was then State Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office with responsibility for foreign and EU affairs - there are many lessons to be learned regarding reconciling different countries' views. Ambassador Lind believes that there are several reasons for Arctic issues moving higher up the international agenda in recent years.

"Global warming is melting the ice. There have been major discussions in recent years on the effects this will have on shipping, raw material extraction, the environment and the survival of people living in the Arctic. Here in Sweden we are now increasing political activity and giving these issues more prominence on the political agenda," says Ambassador Lind.

The Arctic is severely exposed to human pollution, for example in the form of mercury and toxic flame retardants that accumulate in animals and nature. One of the decisive questions is thus to on the one hand find a balance between extraction of raw materials, in other words economic development, and the protection of the environment on the other. The Arctic raw materials supply may be greater than we are aware of today, not only in the form of oil and gas but also mineral deposits and fish.

"It is a fact that countries are going to drill for natural resources, and this cannot be prevented. But the question is what way will this will be done and what regulatory frameworks for environmental consideration, for example, will apply," says Ambassador Mikael Eriksson.

"There is also a moral dimension. The more ice that melts, the more the Arctic can be exploited. So it is worth adopting a clear position," says State Secretary Daniel Johansson at the Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications.

Different conditions

The Arctic countries have different geographical conditions. Some have an Arctic coastline, and several have also held their own political discussions. Other countries too, for example China and Japan, have recently shown increased interest in Arctic issues. Sweden does not have a coast on the Arctic Ocean, but is nevertheless an Arctic state since part of its territory is within the Arctic circle. In addition, Sweden has other experience that can be decisive for carrying cooperation forward.

"I believe it is an advantage that we do not have an Arctic coastline. It means we are seen differently internationally, perhaps more as a facilitator that can help in processes that would otherwise not be possible to move forward," says Björn Dahlbäck at the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat, one of the experts who spoke at the seminar.

Something that is in the offing from Sweden is discussions on transferring good examples from Baltic cooperation to the waters of the Arctic. The idea includes being able to share information on vessels between civil actors. And there is more to do.

"The point is that we need exacting, distinct and shared demands. For example: Who cleans up after oil spills?" says Åke Rohlén at the Transatlantic shipping company.

Three important factors

According to Tomas Ries, researcher at the Swedish National Defence College, there are three factors that are currently leading to greater international interest and a greater presence in the Arctic. Partly global warming, partly technological progress making possible increased exploitation, and partly a growing global shortage of raw materials.