Arctic Council – a Forum of International Cooperation in the Northern Polar Region

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of the Arctic Council’s activities as a forum of international cooperation in the northern polar region. The establishment of the above-mentioned regional international organization in 1996 initiated cooperation of states on topical issues in the Arctic, especially in the field of environmental protection. The Arctic Council united eight states of the northern polar region, Arctic indigenous organizations which have the status of «permanent participants» and international organizations (intergovernmental, inter-parliamentary, non-governmental) which have received the status of observer. Like any organization, it has both advantages and disadvantages. In general, during the existence of the Arctic Council, states under its auspices have been able to adopt three important regional international treaties governing relations between them, as well as a number of «soft law» acts which have political weight. Ukraine has all chances to deepen cooperation with arctic states, having received the status of observer in the Arctic Council. Key words: the Arctic; regional international organization; «soft law»; permanent participant; «Rovaniemi рrocess»; observer.