Russia on Svalbard: the historical overview of Russian-Norwegian cooperation

1. Russia on Svalbard: the historical overview of Russian-Norwegian cooperation Angelica Astrakhantseva, St. Petersburg State University

2. Actuality In connection with the redefinition of the role and importance of the Arctic in general, and its resources, in particular, it is required not only a major revision of number of the existing approaches in choosing the ways and means to further development of northern regions, but also a generalization of the historical experience of their development.

3. Introduction Russia and Norway are neighbors in the North, so it has traditionally played an important role in their relations. In 1251 in the Arctic was signed the oldest in Europe written agreement on a border. The agreement between the Novgorod Republic and Norway on areas of collecting tribute from the Lapps (Sami) on the coast of the Barents and White seas. For a long time Spitsbergen issue had a central place in Russian-Norwegian relations and facilitated closer cooperation between the two countries.

4. Discovering of Svalbard Spitsbergen was oficially discovered by Willem Barents (ab. 1550 – 1597) in 1596. Two other names - "Svalbard" and "Grumant" reflect alternative hypotheses discovery of the archipelago: The archipelago was discovered by Vikings in 1194. It was discovered by Russian Pomors in the second half of XVI century.

5. First winterers on Svalbard Pomors sailing to Svalbard since the XVIth century - hunting for fox, deer, whales, walruses, and collecting eider down. A pioneer in the whole constellation of the Norwegian Svalbard fishermen considered P.K. Buсh from Hammerfest. His sons were the first Norwegian colonists on Svalbard (1794 - 1795).

6. The origin of "Spitsbergen issue" • Growth of scientific activity • Natural resources In 1864, Adolf Erik Nordenskjoldfound coprolites deposits on Svalbard and offered his government to export the valuable raw material to Sweden.

7. 23 February 1871 the Government of Sweden for the first time considered the possibility of sovereignty over the archipelago of Svalbard. March 20 Swedish-Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a note outlining the project of colonization in Berlin, London, Paris, Brussels, The Hague, Copenhagen and St. Petersburg. All states, except Russia, unconditionally supported the Swedish-Norwegian project of colonization. Effects of the Swedish-Russian diplomatic correspondence 1871 - 1872: Agreement of 1872, according to which an international legal status of Svalbard was for the first time officially designated as terra nullius, which was the starting point for further development of Spitsbergen issue.

8. The beginning of industrial activities 1899 - the beginning of commercial mining on about. Spitsbergen (SørenZachariassen). Intense rivalry between American and British capital. In 1905 began the "American" phase in the history of coal mining on Svalbard, where until 1916 ACC predominated. 1912 - Russian expedition to Spitsbergen, headed by Vladimir Rusanov.

9. From ‘no man’s land’ to Norwegian sovereignty Draft Convention on Svalbard in 1910 The international status of the archipelago was defined as the neutralized and demilitarized territory. The administration of Spitsbergen: International Commission - the legislative power, justice of peace - judicial, police commissioner - the executive. Spitsbergen treaty of 1920.Official recognition by USSR of the Norwegian sovereignty over Svalbard in Norway in 1924 Joining the Soviet Union to the Spitsbergen Treaty in 1935.

10. Possible ways of development of Russian activity in Svalbard • The development of private enterprise. Expeditions of V. F. Drzhavetsky (1911), V. A. Rusanov (1912) The development of private enterprise with the participation of the state.  TorgovydomGrumant A. G. Agafelov Co, Russian Spitsbergen Joint Stock Company, Russian Grumant. State activity.

11. The development of Russian exploration in Svalbard, 1910 – 1939. 1910 – 1919:when the main aim is to occupy mining deposits and to establish mining companies. Svalbard’s legal status remains indeterminate - the political situation requires the presence of real economic interests. 1920 – 1931: According to Paris treaty of 1920 Svalbard is under the sovereignty of Norway. On the other hand, the specific feature of that period is a gradual consolidation of Soviet coal resources. 1932 – 1939: there are growing economic interests and the first attempt to put the development of the resource exploitation on a regular basis is done.

12. Mining districts acquired by trust Arcticugol Source ГАРФ. Ф. Р 5446. Оп. 49а. Д. 880. Л. 37.

13. Coal production of the trust Arcticugol, 1932 – 1939

14. Svalbard during the Second World War • important strategic position to establish naval and air bases • meteorological stations • need for high quality coal of Spitsbergen

15. 1944 - 1951 1944 was a turning point in Soviet-Norwegian relations. Claims: revision of the Paris treaty, transfer of the Bear Island to the Soviet Union. Reasons: economic and strategic military importance

16. Russian activities on Svalbard in the postwar period Mining industry: Grumant (1913-1961), Pyramiden (1947-1998), Barentsburg (fr. 1933) • Scientific activity (geophysics, seismology, archeology, glaciology, biology, geology, meteorology, monitoring of the environment). Tourism

17. Russian view of the Paris Treaty Russia does not recognize some regulations in the following fields: environmental protection; oil exploration; 200 mile ‘Fishery Protection Zone’ ; archeological researches

18. Thank you for your attention! a.astra@bk.ru