Russian Embassy in Oslo accuses Norway of violating Svalbard Tract

The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Oslo accused the Norwegian authorities of violating the provisions of the Svalbard Treaty. The message was posted on the Embassy's official Facebook page. The essence of the claims of the Russian side against Norway is that official Oslo began to expose plots located within the scope of the treaty to rounds on distribution of licenses for development of oil and gas resources of the continental shelf. As a result, Russian companies were effectively deprived of the opportunity to participate in applications for some promising shelf areas. The same is true of mineral resources. The legal status of Svalbard is regulated by treaties of 1920. It states that Norway's sovereignty over the archipelago is established, but that States parties to the treaty, including Russia, can exploit natural resources and territorial waters. Problems have accumulated in Svalbard. Due to the actual disregard of our concerns Sergei Lavrov had to send a message to Ina Eriksen Sereide, the Russian embassy reported. It should be noted that in October 2019 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Sereide in Kirkenes, where the problems of Svalbard were discussed. However, the Norwegian authorities did not draw any conclusions after the meeting. Moscow emphasizes that Svalbard is not a native Norwegian territory, as the archipelago was obtained by Oslo on the terms of the Svalbard Tract of 1920. The treaty fully extends to the continental shelf around the islands.