My post on Russia’s Arctic claim last month is now hot news as Russia plants a flag on the arctic seabed, Denmark and Norway jostle for claims, and the US brushes off Russia’s claims. What about Canada? The Star has an article on the Arctic “Cold War” and what Canada (and the US) need to do to keep the Ruskies at bay.
Expectations are that rule of international law will prevail in coming battles over Arctic sovereignty. Okay — but what about that other law, with something about nine-tenths in it?
Foreign minister Peter MacKay was indeed correct when he said of Russia’s provocative flag planting in the North Pole’s sea bed that, “This isn’t the 15th Century.”? He was suggesting that in our modern world, codified international law will decide claims of geographic ownership. And Russia, a sophisticated player in global diplomacy, has made statements in the past that it couldn’t agree more.But then MacKay’s Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, said he was amazed by Canada’s response. “We’re not throwing flags around,” he told the Russian media. “We just do what other discoverers did.”
Most experts believe that international law, in the form of the United Nations’ Convention on the Law of the Sea, will play an integral role in figuring out the unfolding conflict in the Arctic.
But don’t count out the intrepid explorers of yesteryear and the kind of de facto international law they practised. In spite of the convention, some believe it’s possible for countries to operate in a manner predating international law ”“ or to ignore whatever decisions may flow from it. With precious little ability to enforce its claims in the Arctic, Canada may be falling behind in asserting itself not in law, but in real life.
The story of the Arctic is still one of the future. Currently, it’s a frozen hinterland, but with the polar ice caps melting, some predictions have it opening up to serious exploration and economic exploitation within 30 years. And the U.S. Geological Survey estimates that 25 per cent of the world’s undiscovered oil and gas remains locked up deep beneath the frigid waters.
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IJ added these pithy words on 12 Aug 07 at 4:06 pmWikipedia suggests that the US refused to sign the UN convention for a number of reasons. In essence largely because it didn’t want to be told what to do by the UN. This was why Bretton Woods collapsed in the 1970s, wasn’t it?
In this latest trial of strength, the European Union will no doubt have to decide whether or not to support the United Nations.
feeblemind added these pithy words on 12 Aug 07 at 5:25 pmSooner or later, people are going to have to understand that Russia plays by Russia’s rules. UN won’t stop Russia from doing things that are in her national interest. Dictators have never honored decrees on parchment for very long. BTW, don’t hold your breath waiting for the polar ice cap to melt.
Thomas added these pithy words on 12 Aug 07 at 5:41 pmI believe I paraphrase Aaron Sorkin when I say:
The problem with enforcing international law is that most of it hasn’t been written yet.
IJ added these pithy words on 30 Dec 07 at 3:52 pmMost experts believe that international law, in the form of the United Nations’ Convention on the Law of the Sea, will play an integral role in figuring out the unfolding conflict in the Arctic.
It was said last week, The treaty—which was given a thumbs-up in October by the US Foreign Relations Committee and now awaits ratification in the Senate—declares most of earth’s vast ocean floor to be the “common heritage of mankind,” placing it under UN aegis “for the benefit of mankind as a whole.” . . . With substantial support from all but a few outspoken Senate Republicans (like Jesse Helms and James Inhofe), US ratification of the Law of the Sea is almost a certainty.
Property that is not sovereign, but is for the benefit of mankind as a whole? It is being suggested at high levels in the US that reserves of oil, up till now considered sovereign, are really the property of mankind.
Mike added these pithy words on 18 Jan 08 at 3:31 amWell I think it is quite pathetic how experts and such are so concerned about the gas and oil beneath the MELTING ice caps…. HMMM… Whats more important here? Global warming, or gas and oil to make global warming worse?! Are people to blind to see what is happening with the earth? There are bigger matters at hand than who wants to lay claim to the ailing arctic. wow.
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