“Lavrov’s letter is nothing new. We respond to requests from Russian individuals with interests on Svalbard, whether they are Russian citizens or Russian companies, ”Halvorsen quotes High North News.
He noted that Norway "does not consult with other countries regarding the exercise of its sovereignty over any part of Norwegian territory."
On February 4, on the occasion of the centenary of the signing of the treaty, Lavrov sent a message to his Norwegian counterpart Ina Marie Eriksen Söreida, which emphasized the need for Norway to comply with the spirit and letter of the treaty in terms of ensuring “equal free access to the archipelago and the possibility of conducting economic and economic activity there on a full equality ”.
The message noted that, in particular, Moscow’s concern was caused by the restrictions imposed on the use of the Russian helicopter, directed exclusively against Russian citizens, the procedure for deportation from Spitsbergen, the illegality of the establishment of the so-called fish protection zone by Norway, the artificial expansion of nature protection zones to limit economic activity in the archipelago, a number of other problems.
Lavrov suggested holding bilateral consultations to remove restrictions on the activities of Russian structures in the archipelago.