Special Envoy to the Arctic for China, Feng Gao, says China will not support Norway's chairmanship of the Arctic Council if Russia is still banned.
In the spring, Western states decided to refuse to participate in the activities of the working bodies of the Arctic Council during the presidency of Russia in connection with the special operation in Ukraine.
There are legal disputes over Norway’s upcoming chairmanship to the Arctic Council next year. Without consensus from all 8 members of the council, it is questioned whether Norway can assume the chairmanship at all in May 2023, highnorthnews.com writes.
“The Arctic Council is based on a declaration and there is no procedure for leaving the council. I doubt that the chairmanship can be transferred to anyone or that Norway can take over the chair without Russia from a legal point of view,” says Gao.
When questioned whether China will still show up as an observer state to the council if Russia is still banned from the council, the Minister says that there is no solution to this question right now.
The Arctic Council was established in 1996 on the initiative of Canada with the aim of cooperation in the field of environmental protection and sustainable development of the circumpolar regions. It includes seven more Arctic countries: Russia, USA, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland and Sweden.
Alex Shishlo for Rough&Polished
Exclusive
Vladimir Pilyushin: The jewelry market is not stand-alone and moves by the same laws as other markets
Vladimir Pilyushin is editor-in-chief of Russian Jeweler, a leading magazine about the jewelry industry in Russia. He told Rough&Polished about his view on the evolution of the jewelry industry in Russia and touched upon some of its problems.
16 september 2024
Sarine’s David Block: Diamond Industry at Standstill Until Chinese Demand Returns
David Block is CEO of Israel’s Sarine Technologies and has served in the position since 2012. In this exclusive interview for Rough and Polished, Block gives his opinion on the leading issues affecting today’s diamond trade.
11 september 2024
Dr M'zée Fula Ngenge: Demand for considerable-sized diamonds stronger than ever
The African Diamond Council (ADC) chairperson Dr M'zée Fula Ngenge told Rough & Polished’s Mathew Nyaungwa in an exclusive interview that although overall global diamond prices have been somewhat soft, the demand for considerable-sized diamonds...
02 september 2024
Amplats sees prospects as a standalone company
Anglo has revealed its plans to demerge Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), which has operations in South Africa and Zimbabwe, to optimise shareholder value. Rough&Polished contacted Amplats to comment on this and other issues but was referred...
19 august 2024
WFDB President Yoram Dvash Remains Confident Despite Global Diamond Challenges
Yoram Dvash is President of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) having been elected in 2020. He found time in his busy schedule to speak to Rough&Polished about the state of the diamond industry around the world and some of the major...
12 august 2024
