USA Thank you . . . I would like to remind you of the need for cooperation between the Arctic Council and The Northern Forum with a few words from a speech I gave to the emerging Arctic Council in 1995. If any of the issues being raised by the Arctic Council will have any consequence, it would be illogical not to include the regional governments in the process. World wide, residents of the Arctic seldom have influence in the decisions that affect them. The entire Arctic has now embraced Democracy over Communism.
Democracy is based on strong representation at all levels of government.
If we are committed to the ideals of democracy, the Arctic Council must turn to the locally elected officials and must involve them in a meaningful way in the decision making process. And now it gives me great pleasure to call upon the Chairman of The Northern Forum, President Mikhail Nikolaev of the Sakha Republic . . .