Northern Dimension Forum to Convene in Finland, June 17-18

The Northern Dimension II forum will convene in Kajaani, Finland, on June 17 and 18. According to the information service of the government of Finland, discussed will be the possibility modern technologies may be used to assure the stable economic development of arctic regions. Also touched upon will be the use of the natural resources contained in the Arctic Ocean's shelf (oil, gas, and minerals), economy, scientific research, native trade, the development of transportation and other infrastructures, the provision of services, and environmental protection.

The principal contributors will be Paavo Lipponen, the Prime Minister of Finland, and Artur Chelengarov a Vice Chairman of Russia's State Duma. Also, Dr. Ottokar Hahn, the special representative of the European Commission and the former Ambassador of the European Union in Moscow, will deliver his report 'The Actual Approach of the European Union to Northern Dimension'.