INTERNATIONAL LAW PROBLEMS IN THE ARCTIC

In: Études internationales: revue trimestrielle, Band 20, Heft 1, S. 131-186

Abstract

THE TERRITORIAL SOVEREIGNTY OVER ALASKA, THE ARCTIC ISLANDS OF THE SOVIET UNION, SVALBARD, GREENLAND AND THE CANADIAN ARCTIC ARCHIPELAGO POSES NO PROBLEM, BUT THE CONTINENTAL SHELF OFF THOSE TERRITORIES AND ISLANDS HAS YET TO BE DELIMITED BETWEEN THE FIVE ARCTIC STATES: ALASKA, THE SOVIET UNION, NORWAY, DENMARK AND CANADA. THE ARCTIC OCEAN BEING A SEMI-ENCLOSED SEA, BORDERING STATES SHOULD COOPERATE UNDER THE NEW LAW OF THE SEA CONVENTION IN THE EXPLOITATION OF THE LIVING RESOURCES, THE PROTECTION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT AND THE CONDUCT OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. THIS COOPERATION COULD BEST BE ATTAINED BY THE CREATION OF AN ARCTIC BASIN COUNCIL COMPOSED OF ALL ARCTIC STATES AND, POSSIBLY, THE NORDIC COUNTRIES. NOTE: ARTICLE IS PRINTED IN FRENCH