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Spitsbergen Treaty
Recognises th full and absolute soverignty of Norway over the artic archipelago of Spisbergen (now called Svalbard). The exercise of sovereignty is, however, subject to certain stipulations, and not all Norwegian law applies. The treaty only partly demilitarizes Svalbard. All signatories were given equal rights to engage in commercial activities (mainly coal mining) on the islands. Currently Norway and Russia are utilising this right. -
Treaty came into force
Norway took over sovereign governorship and immediately enacted a series of environmental protection measures. -
Norway - Russia start negotiations
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Norway established a regulated fishery in a 200NM zone around Svalbard
Norway established a regulated fishery in a 200-nautical-mile (370 km) zone around Svalbard (though it did not close the zone to foreign access).It argues that the treaty's provisions of equal economic access only apply to the islands and their territorial waters, but not to the wider Exclusive Economic Zone; in addition, it argues that the continental shelf is a part of mainland Norway's continental shelf, and should be governed by the 1958 Continental Shelf Convention. -
Grey Zone agreement
Fisheries management in the disputed area was
taken up as a separate issue. Norway and Russia
concluded a temporary agreement on fishing in
1978. The agreement defined a new area, the so called Grey Zone , where the parties could fish and inspect fishing vessels in accordance with agreed arrangements. The Grey Zone includes part of the disputed area as well as areas of undisputed Norwegian and Russian maritime jurisdiction. This provisional agreement has been renewed every year -
Norway Jan Mayen 200 nautical miles EEZ
In 1980, Norway established a fishing zone
extending 200 nautical miles around Jan Mayen.
The zone is not a full exclusive economic zone, as
only fishing rights apply. Its establishment led to
disagreements with Denmark (Greenland) and
Iceland over where the maritime boundaries should be drawn. -
Seismic survey - possible reserves (Oil/NG)
According to the Russian energy
ministry, the disputed area holds 6.4 billion tons oil
equivalent (400 million tons of oil and 5800 billion
cubic meters of gas). However, the disputed area
has no proven reserves, since exploratory drilling
has not yet taken place. -
Dispute resolved between Norway, Iceland
The disagreements have since been
resolved, following a compromise with Iceland in
1981 in which Norway gave up disputed area -
Norway Denmark conflict resolved
The disagreements have since been resolved,with Denmark in 1993 through a ruling by the International Court at The Hague. -
MOU between MMS-MNR-NPD
The MNR and MMS work closely with the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) and other Russian government entities with offshore oil and gas regulatory authority to develop a project proposal that will assist Russia in developing a comprehensive safety and environmental regime for offshore oil and gas operations, including Arctic waters, consistent with international standards. -
Russia Norway restart talks
Russia wants the expertise and technology Norway has developed over four decades of working in its own frigid waters, while Norway wants access to the vast resources thought to lie under the sea as its own reserves mature -
Norway Russia sign deal on Varangerfjord in the Arctic
Norway's and Russia's prime ministers agreed Friday to sign a deal demarcating the sea border between their countries in the outer Varangerfjord in the Arctic within days. "We have agreed in principle to sign a deal on Varangerfjord within the next few days," Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov said after meeting his Norwegian counterpart, Jens Stoltenberg, in Moscow. -
UN backs Norway claim to Arctic seabed extension