The key topics of discussion at the Conference became issues related to the Arctic sustainable development, maintaining the languages of indigenous people, climate change and economic development of the Arctic territories.
Grigorii Ledkov
Grigorii Petroviсh
, in his
report, spoke about legislative drafting, which is aimed at preserving and developing of culture and traditional livelihood of the indigenous peoples of the North, as well as about the economic development of the Arctic region as a whole.
Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Issues of Nationalities noted the importance of the negotiating forum held in Inari, and also took the initiative to invite to this expert forum the permanent members of the Arctic Council – indigenous peoples’ organizations of the Arctic countries.
As a result of the Conference, it was agreed to hold a regular meeting of the Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic region in November-December 2018 in Naryan-Mar.
More than 50 delegates from the Nordic countries, Canada, Russia, representatives of the European Parliament, indigenous peoples’ organizations of the Arctic region, as well as observer countries in the Arctic Council — China and Singapore -attended the Conference.
The 13th Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic region was held from 17 to 19 September 2018 in Finland in the Sami Cultural Centre in Inari.
It should be reminded that the Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic region (CPAR) was founded in 1993. Main objectives: discussions and exchange of information between parliaments, governments, indigenous peoples’ organizations, international governmental and non-governmental organizations; undertake initiatives in the field of Arctic cooperation at the regional and international levels. Permanent members are the parliaments of eight Arctic Council member countries (Denmark, Iceland, Canada, Norway, Russia, USA, Finland, Sweden), as well as the European Parliament. The Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic region is held every two years. The previous Conference was held in Ulan-Ude. The Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic region, represented by one person from each participating country, is the current working body of the CPAR. The Standing Committee is responsible for the development of initiatives for promoting cooperation in the Arctic region, interaction with the Parliament of the country hosting the next Conference, monitoring the implementation of the provisions of the Conference.
