Russia mulls review of Barents Sea delimitation treaty with Norway

Russian Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin has instructed the Foreign Affairs Committee to study options of denouncing a treaty on maritime delimitation and cooperation in the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean.

That’s according to The Barents Observer, Ukrinform reports.

Moscow has accused Norway of preventing food and cargo supplies to Svalbard.

Putting an end to 40 years of territorial dispute, the 2010 Treaty was seen as a broader Russian foreign policy effort to reduce possible conflicts with neighboring nations with the intention to improve Moscow’s image as a rule-abiding player following international laws and regulations.

Fisheries cooperation, though, continues and the Barents Sea regulation of quotas between the two countries is broadly considered to be one of the best international agreements on maintaining sustainable stocks of cod and other species.

In response to the move, Norwegian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ane Haavardsdatter said that the treaty has no retroactive effect, expressing hope that Russia will respect the fact that such treaties are deemed indefinite.