RUSSIA ON SVALBARD:THE HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF RUSSIAN-

NORWEGIAN COOPERATION

Angelica Astrakhantseva,

St. Petersburg State University

Actuality

In connection with the redefinition of the role and importance of the Arctic in general, and its resources, in particular, it is required not only a major revision of number of the existing approaches in choosing the ways and means to further development of northern regions, but also a generalization of the historical experience of their development.

Introduction

Russia and Norway are neighbors in the North, so it has traditionally played an important role in their relations.

In 1251 in the Arctic was signed the oldest in Europe written agreement on a border.

The agreement between the Novgorod Republic and Norway on areas of collecting tribute from the Lapps (Sami) on the coast of the Barents and White seas.

For a long time Spitsbergen issue had a central place in Russian-Norwegian relations and facilitated closer cooperation between the two countries.

Discovering of Svalbard

Spitsbergen was officially discovered by Willem Barents (ab. 1550 – 1597) in 1596.

Two other names - "Svalbard" and "Grumant" reflect alternative hypotheses:

1. The archipelago was discovered by Vikings in 1194.

2. It was discovered by Russian Pomors in the 2nd half of XVI century.

map of Spitsbergen, 1653

First winterers on Svalbard

A pioneer in the whole constellation of the Norwegian Svalbard fishermen considered P.K. Buсh from Hammerfest. His sons were the first Norwegian colonists on Svalbard (1794 - 1795).

Pomors sailing to Svalbard since the XVIth century - hunting for fox, deer, whales, walruses, and collecting eider down.

Norwegian trapping hut

Pomor carved wooden cross

The origin of "Spitsbergen issue"

In 1864, Adolf Erik Nordenskjold found coprolites deposits on Svalbard and offered his government to export the valuable raw material to Sweden.

• Growth of scientific activity

• Natural resources

map of Spitsbergen, 1720

23 February 1871 the Government of Sweden for the first time considered the possibility of sovereignty over the archipelago of Svalbard.

March 20 Swedish-Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a note outlining the project of colonization in Berlin, London, Paris, Brussels, The Hague, Copenhagen and St. Petersburg. All states, except Russia, unconditionally supported the Swedish-Norwegian project of colonization.

Effects of the Swedish-Russian diplomatic correspondence 1871 - 1872: Agreement of 1872, according to which an international legal status of Svalbard was for the first time officially designated as terra nullius, which was the starting point for further development of Spitsbergen issue.

The beginning of industrial activities

1899 - the beginning of commercial mining on about. Spitsbergen (Søren Zachariassen).

Intense rivalry between American and British capital.

In 1905 began the "American" phase in the history of coal mining on Svalbard, where until 1916 ACC predominated.

1912 - Russian expedition to Spitsbergen, headed by Vladimir Rusanov. report map of the V. Rusanov ‘s

expedition, 1912

From ‘no man’s land’ to Norwegian sovereignty

Draft Convention on Svalbard in 1910 The international status of the archipelago was defined as the neutralized and demilitarized territory. The administration of Spitsbergen: International Commission - the legislative power, justice of peace – judicial power, police commissioner - the executive power.

Spitsbergen treaty of 1920. Official recognition by USSR of the Norwegian sovereignty over Svalbard in Norway in 1924

Joining of the Soviet Union to the Spitsbergen Treaty in 1935.

Possible ways of development of Russian activity on Svalbard

• The development of private enterprise with the participation of the state.

Torgovy dom Grumant A. G. Agafelov Co, Russian Spitsbergen Joint Stock Company, Russian Grumant.

• State activity.

• The development of private enterprise. Expeditions of V. F. Drzhavetsky

(1911), V. A. Rusanov (1912)

Barentsburg

The development of Russian exploration

in Svalbard, 1910 – 1939.

1. 1910 – 1919: when the main aim is to occupy mining deposits and to establish mining companies. Svalbard’s legal status remains indeterminate - the political situation requires the presence of real economic interests.

2. 1920 – 1931: According to Paris treaty of 1920 Svalbard is under the sovereignty of Norway. On the other hand, the specific feature of that period is a gradual consolidation of Soviet coal resources.

3. 1932 – 1939: there are growing economic interests and the first attempt to put the development of the resource exploitation on a regular basis is done.

Mining districts acquired by trust Arcticugol

Source ГАРФ. Ф. Р 5446. Оп. 49а. Д. 880. Л. 37.

№ District Date of

acquisition

Purchased

from

Document confirming the

acquisition

1. Barentsburg 25.06.1932 Dutch company

NESPIKO

Treaty of 07.25.1934. Deed

of purchase from

07.16.1927

2. Boheman Fluya Same Same Same

3. Grumant City 10.12.1931 English-Russian

Joint Stock

Company

Act of 10.12.1931. Deed of

purchase from 30.12.1927.

4. Pyramid

Mountain

Unknown Russian

Grumant

Society

Deed of purchase from

27.08.1927

Coal production of the trust Arcticugol, 1932 – 1939

1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939

Объем добычи угля трестом "Арктикуголь"

26.3 131 219 339.5 457 470 328 341

25

125

225

325

425

Coa

l pro

duct

ion,

thou

sand

tons

Svalbard during the World War II

important strategic position to establish naval and air bases

meteorological stations

• need for high quality coal of Spitsbergen

Barentsburg, 1943

monument, Barentsburg

1944 - 1951

1944 was - a turning point in Soviet-Norwegian relations.

Claims: revision of the Paris treaty, transfer of the Bear Island to the Soviet Union.

Reasons: economic and strategic military importance

Russian activities on Svalbard in the postwar period

Mining industry:

Grumant (1913-1961),

Pyramiden (1947-1998),

Barentsburg (fr. 1933)

Scientific activity (geophysics, seismology, archeology, glaciology, biology, geology, meteorology, monitoring of the environment).

Tourism

Pyramiden

Russian view of the Paris Treaty

Russia does not recognize some regulations in the following fields:

• environmental protection;• oil exploration;• 200 mile ‘Fishery Protection Zone’ ;• archeological researches.

Thank you for your attention!

a.astra@bk.ru