Participants in the meeting discussed the production and financial performance of ArcticUgol on the Spitsbergen Archipelago in 2011-2012, and ways of making it more effective in 2013.
They also discussed the implementation of the strategy on the Russian presence on Spitsbergen to 2020. Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich instructed the Foreign Ministry to coordinate a package of specific measures with federal executive bodies aimed at protecting the legal rights and interests of the Russian Federation, Russian citizens and Russian organisations on Spitsbergen to 2015, and submit it to the Government.
In addition, the Ministry of Transport, the Rosmorrechflot Federal Agency of Marine and River Transport, Rostourism (the Federal Agency for Tourism) and ArcticUgol have been instructed to present a report by April 2013 on measures to develop the transport system, including helicopter service, and proposals on upgrading and using the helicopter fleet, and to ensure safe navigation in the area of the Spitsbergen Archipelago, with due account of the need to develop economic activities and tourism on the archipelago and adjacent basins.
During the same period, Rostourism and the ministries and departments concerned have been instructed to prepare a report on the formation of a tourist infrastructure on the archipelago. In the meantime, the Ministry of Healthcare, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Finance, the Federal Medico-Biological Agency and ArcticUgol have been charged with presenting agreed-upon proposals on organising effective medical, sanitary and epidemiological services for employees of Russian and other companies operating on the archipelago.
The participants also reviewed the implementation of investment and research projects on the archipelago, and proposals on new ones. Following the meeting, Mr Dvorkovich instructed federal executive bodies to submit to the Foreign Ministry specific proposals on organising the preparations for and implementation of measures and projects stipulated by the guidelines of the strategy of the Russian presence on the archipelago to 2020. Mr Dvorkovich also instructed the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Natural Rresources, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Finance, Roshydromet (the Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring) and the Russian Academy of Sciences to organise the elaboration of a concept for the formation and development of a Russian research centre on the archipelago, and submit it for consideration by the Government commission.
