2007年VOA标准英语-Russia Seeks to Claim Arctic Mineral Wealth(在线收听) | |||
By Peter Fedynsky A Russian naval expedition is sailing toward the North Pole to explore the bottom of the Arctic Ocean in an effort to stake Moscow's claim to territory that may contain significant undersea deposits of oil and natural gas. VOA Correspondent Peter Fedynsky has this report from the Russian capital.
The ship's mission is to prove that large areas of the Arctic belong to Russia. Moscow contends that a large undersea geological formation in the area, known as the Lomonosov Ridge, is an extension of continental Russia. According to international law, nations may claim control of areas within 320 kilometers of their continental shelves. The Arctic until now has been considered international territory. Nations with land bordering the Arctic Ocean, including the United States, reject Moscow's contention that the area could belong to Russia. Denmark, which controls Greenland, is cooperating with Canada in arguing that the Lomonosov Ridge is an extension of North America, not Russia. Russian television journalists and two members of the Russian parliament are on board the Arctic-bound ship. In remarks televised from the expedition, lawmaker Artur Chilingarov questioned competing claims.
Russian scientists plan to explore the undersea terrain in two mini-submarines. At stake is ownership of vast deposits of oil and natural gas. The area in question is larger than the combined territories of several European nations. Global warming is melting vast portions of the Arctic Ocean, which would make it easier to drill for oil and gas there. | |||
原文地址:http://www.tingroom.com/voastandard/2007/7/41338.html |