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Yesterday it was decided by foreign ministers and leaders of the indigenous people of the Arctic Council that the new standing secretariat for the council will be located in Tromsø, North Norway.
The secretariat is established in order to increase the ability of the council to address future challenges in the region. The establishment is also viewed as an integral part of the efforts set by the Council in order to strengthen its position through the Nuuk Declaration, which was signed by the ministers at their meeting yesterday on the 12th of May.
US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, announced after the Nuuk-meeting that “the Arctic Council now has entered a new era of decision-making.” The Norwegian foreign minister, Jonas Gahr-Støre also added that “It is a great day for Tromsø, and a recognition of the international research environment located in the city.” At the same it was important for the Norwegian delegation that the secretariat would actually be located in the Arctic.
In the press release that was issued after the meeting the participants stated that:
“When it comes to strengthening the Arctic Council, the Permanent Participants give support to the Arctic States to continue negotiating binding agreements, under the auspices of the Arctic Council, such as the Search and Rescue agreement signed by the Arctic Ministers”.
With regards to sensitive indigenous issues it was mentioned that:
“The Arctic Council is the forum in the Arctic for addressing environmental issues of high concern for us as Indigenous peoples. Our primary practices takes place in the ecosystems that we depend upon, by herding, gathering, fishing and hunting. Without a healthy environment, our culture and livelihoods will be at stake.”
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Arctic Council secretariat to be established in Tromsø
