Point of View

“The efforts of the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM) are an example of useful and effective cooperation in environmental protection. As the current HELCOM chairman, Russia is doing all it can to enhance the performance of this universal and one-of-a-kind international organisation. Successful implementation of the HELCOM long-term plan of action, which was adopted in Krakow in 2007, should become a model for environmental protection policies in the region. The experience we gained may be used to protect other bodies of water along our borders.”

“I would like to stress that we are willing to cooperate internationally on the broadest scale and engage in dialogue with all interested states. We see great potential in the initiative to establish the Partnership for Modernisation between Russia and the European Union (EU). Joint environmental projects will be an integral part of this partnership.”

“In 2010 we are planning to pass a decision establishing the Ingermanland Nature Reserve, which will contain several islands in the Gulf of Finland. This is our real contribution to the fulfilment of our collective commitments to protect the Baltic Sea.”

“We are making significant progress in reducing waste and air and water pollution - by more than 1% per year. We will increase the area of nature reserves and national parks by 11 million hectares by 2012. This is a colossal amount of land even for Russia, with its enormous territory. Today we have 55 million hectares of national nature reserves. We will increase this figure by 20% by 2012.”

“From the very outset environmental protection has been a priority for Nord Stream. We were guided not only by economic expediency, but also by commitment to the strictest international environmental standards. Some €100 million were spent on environmental impact assessments. Geophysical surveys were carried out over an unbelievable 40,000 square kilometres of seabed to find the optimal, safest route for the gas pipeline. <…>I can state with confidence that there has never been such massive environmental study in the history of the Baltic. Never has such a large amount of money been allocated for the environmental research on the Baltic.”

“It is important not only to realise the scope of problems but also take actual steps to address them, as my Finnish counterpart has just said, and take joint responsibility for the fate and recovery of the Baltic Sea. When addressing any economic issues and goals, it is necessary to take into account both the interests of one's own economy and people, and the interests of one's neighbours, as well as assess possible environmental impact on the Baltic which unites all of us. This is Russia's approach to implementing major infrastructure projects.”

"I take advantage of my current job to try to resolve the most acute problems in that area. Are you aware that our Red list includes many animals that are on the brink of extinction and extermination? Among them - the Amur tigers in the Far East of which there are only 500 left. That is a critical number. The Far Eastern leopards are in an even worse situation. Scientists estimate that there are approximately 50 to 60 species of leopards left. "

"We have made the first steps to the so-called green economy and sustained development. We have formulated strict energy efficiency guidelines. The government's development guidelines until 2012 and for the period until 2020 stipulate a series of nature protection and other environmental initiatives. Our goal is to fight pollution, rehabilitate land, and protect water and forest resources."

"The required level of APG utilization should be no less than 95% by 2012. Oil producers that do not fulfill this requirement and continue to burn it off in flares will have to pay huge fines for excessive air pollution. Oil companies must also have positive stimuli for developing APG processing. For example, electricity generated from APG could have priority access to the country's power grids, which would encourage oil producers to invest in the construction of new generating capacities."

"I would like to remind you that the Russian Federation currently holds the presidency of the Baltic Sea States Council. Just lately, several days ago, I signed off on the plan for the Russian Government's work as President of the Baltic Sea States Council. We are completing, have completed the practical work on the plan to improve the Baltic Sea environment for 2010-2012. It includes specific projects such as the building of purification facilities, including in the Kaliningrad Region."