International forum Nordic Dimension

On Monday a two-day international forum, Nordic Dimension, opened in the Finnish city of Kajaani. The theme is The use of modern technologies in the tapping of the rich natural resources of the Northern regions and seas.

Appearing at this forum with a report, Finnish Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen spoke of the increasing role of the Arctic region for the entire European Union. Lipponen recalled that the Arctic energy wealth is of strategic importance for the Northern hemisphere and cited the increasing role of Russia as the producer of oil and gas.

Lipponen invited the Finnish Academy of Sciences and other research centers to focus in their scientific programmes on Arctic research and the use of modern Arctic technologies.