Norway and Russia sign border deal demarcating the border in the Varanger fjord area
Norway and Russia signed a deal Wednesday demarcating the border in the sea in the Varanger fjord area. The agreement sets out in more detail the border, originally established in 1957, as well as the limits to Russia's and Norway's areas of jurisdiction. Although the area concerned is of limited size, this is an important agreement. It is 50 years since Norway last negotiated a boundary agreement with Russia,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.Norway hopes the partial deal will be a step towards resolving a decades-old border dispute over an area in the Barents Sea that geologists say could hold significant fuel resources.The signatures on the agreement were made by Norway's Ambassador in Moscow, Øyvind Nordsletten, and Russia's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vladimir Titov (see photo).“The signing of an advanced maritime boundary agreement of this kind strengthens our neighbourly relations with Russia and is a step in the right direction. Clear boundary lines are important for all users of the sea, particularly in an area so close to the coast. This will help to ensure greater predictability and stability,” said Mr Støre.
“The negotiations were conducted in a constructive spirit. This process and the agreement that has now been reached could contribute positively to the efforts to reach agreement on the area of overlapping claims in the Barents Sea. The area covered by today’s agreement lies to the south of the Barents Sea. Norway and Russia have agreed to give priority to continuing negotiations on further delimitation,” said Mr Støre.