Cablegate: Media Reaction: Russia's Claim Over the Artic; Sco Paulo

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OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSO #0657 2151353
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 031353Z AUG 07
FM AMCONSUL SAO PAULO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7310
INFO RHEHNSC/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 8413
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO PRIORITY 8239
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 2865

UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000657

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE INR/R/MR; IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD

DEPT PASS USTR

USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD BR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: RUSSIA'S CLAIM OVER THE ARTIC; SCO PAULO

"Russia Concludes Mission In The Artic And Underscores Scientific
And Political Feat"

Liberal, largest national circulation daily Folha de S. Paulo
remarked (8/3): "The success of a Russian submarine expedition with
strong political connotation excited that nation's scientific
community. Two small submarines touched the bottom of the Artic
Ocean under the frozen surface and literally placed a Russian flag
there.... The expedition's goal was to collect material for
scientific research and reinforce the Russian claim on the soil
under the Artic Ocean. The area is rich in oil and other minerals.
'For me, it is like placing a flag on the moon,' said the spokesman
of the Russian Artic and Antarctic Institute. President Vladimir
Putin had already underlined Russia's need to look for what he
believes to be Russian rights in the Artic region.... The fact is
that the area, which is officially considered international
territory, has been claimed not only by Russia and Canada. It was
already claimed by the US, Denmark and Norway. The UN denied all
these claims. But Russia believes that with the material collected
yesterday it will prove that the area is a natural extension of its
continental platform."
Helling

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