Greenpeace’s
icebreaker is to leave Arctic waters after the environmental group
claimed Russian authorities threatened to use force against it.
The Arctic Sunrise was on Monday afternoon leaving the Kara Sea and anArctic shipping route after the Russian coast guard said it had entered the area illegally and warned it would use force if necessary, Greenpeace said.
It
marks the end of a three-day incursion by Greenpeace into the
NorthernSea Route to protest against Arctic oil exploration by Rosneft
and ExxonMobil.
Four members of Russia’s coast guard carried out a
“mandatory inspection” of the boat earlier on Monday, shortly after
Greenpeace launched inflatable boats with banners reading “Save The
Arctic” near a Rosneft exploration vessel.
Greenpeace said it would call on the Dutch government – where the
icebreaker is registered – to consider a legal complaint about Russia’s
alleged violation of the international law of the sea, and freedom of
expression.
Russia had turned down three requests from Greenpeace for permission
to enter the Northern Sea Route – a new potential transit for
Asia-Europe trade – saying that the width of the ice belt was
insufficient.
The Northern Sea Route, controlled by Russia, is seen as an increasingly interesting shipping alternative
in the long term for Asia-Europe trade. But for the next decade or so,
most experts believe it will be most useful in allowing Russia to export
any oil or gas it is able to extract from sites close to its Arctic shoreline.
Rosneft and Exxon have started testing in the Kara Sea. Rosneft on
Wednesday reportedly offered to buy Greenpeace a television set as TV
programmes could give the environmental group objective information
about Rosneft’s intentions.
Christy Ferguson, a Greenpeace campaigner on board the Arctic
Sunrise, warned of the damage an oil spill could cause in the remote
area. “If an accident happens here it will cause irreparable harm to the
entire region. There is no proven method for dealing with an oil spill
in icy conditions, and cold water stops the oil breaking down for many
years. Polar bears, walruses and rare creatures like the narwhal will
lose their habitat and this place would be devastated.”
Greenpeace says Russia’s refusal to grant it permission was contrary
to international law, while it claimed drilling in the Arctic national
park was against Russia’s environmental laws.
Russia’s ministry of transport on Wednesday justified denying the
icebreaker permission, by saying Greenpeace had not provided information
about the width of the vessel’s protective ice belt.
Source :http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b119257e-0e2b-11e3-bfc8-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2d63DWQz1
