Amid Norway’s celebration of Svalbard Treaty comes another verbal attack from Moscow
The country's Crown Prince and Prime Minister came to the far northern archipelago to celebrate 100 years of Norwegian sovereignty. At the same time, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued yet another sharp protest against Oslo.
“One hundred years ago, Spitsbergen along with its islands and Bear Island were incorporated in our free, independent and indivisible kingdom. Therefore, we are here to celebrate,” Crown Prince Haakon said in an address delivered at the town square of Longyearbyen. Haakon visited Svalbard for the first time when he was only 7-years-old and has since been to the archipelago many times. “Svalbard has always had a special place in my heart,” he emphasised. The Svalbard Treaty was signed in 1920.
Five years later, on August 25, 1925, it came into force and the archipelago officially became part of Norway. “Norway has exercised its authority in Svalbard consistently and predictably for 100 years,” Prime Minister Støre emphasised in a speech. “This has helped to keep tensions low in the High North.” “Norway has full sovereignty over Svalbard and the exclusive right to exercise authority over the archipelago. We do so in accordance with principles of international law,” he underlined. But not everyone is happy with the Norwegian rule over Svalbard.
On the day before the celebrations in Longyearbyen, the Russian foreign ministry lashed out against the Norwegians. In its weekly press conference, foreign ministry spokesperson Aleksei Fadeev accused Oslo of ‘anti-Russian discrimination,’ ‘militarisation,’ and ‘violation of the Svalbard Treaty.’ The country that wages the most aggressive and bloody war in Europe since WWII accuses Norway of violating international law. “We note the increasing efforts of the Norwegian authorities to strengthen their sovereignty over the archipelago in violation of the 1920 Treaty, to the detriment of our interests,” he said and pointed at alleged increasing restrictions on Russia’s economic and scientific activities in the area. According to the Russians, Oslo is “taking steps to increase its military presence in the archipelago and bring it into the orbit of NATO’s military and political planning structures.” The statement also includes a threat. “With its provocative actions, Oslo is creating an atmosphere of confrontation around the archipelago, which could lead to increased tensions in the high latitudes.” “The Russian side expects Oslo to reconsider its politicised and unconstructive approaches and return to the conscientious fulfilment of the commitments it made 100 years ago,” the foreign ministry emphasises.
It is far from the first time that Moscow has threatened the Norwegians over their management of the archipelago. Ahead of anniversary celebrations in 2020, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov sent a letter to Oslo in which he strongly emphasised Russia’s feeling of being discriminated against on the archipelago. He also called for so-called «bilateral consultations on the removal of limitations to Russian activity and structures on the archipelago.» The Russian position was fully rebuffed by then Foreign Minister Ine Søreide Eriksen and Minister of Justice Monica Mæland. “Svalbard is part of Norway [and] it is not natural that we consult with other countries about the execution of powers in our own areas,” they stressed in a joint statement.
