Evolution of the International Legal Regime of the Arctic Ocean and Russia's National Interests

• Main Author: Ivan S. Zhndro
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; Russian
• Published: Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) 2016
• Subjects: право; пространственно-временное измерение; международно-правовой режим; обычай; северный ледовитый океан; континентальный шельф; район «общего наследия человечества»; law; the international legal regime; international customs; arctic ocean; continental shelf; "common heritage of mankind”; space-time factors; Law of nations; KZ2-6785; Comparative law. International uniform law; K520-5582; Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Northern Sea Route
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.24833/0869-0049-2016-2-63-80; https://doaj.org/article/6ef91efe3eb748f99e40e138b7e15707

The article is devoted the theme of a clash in the views of the domestic expert community on international legal regime of the Arctic Ocean (hereinafter- ILR AO) and, in particular, on the problem of delimitation of the Arctic shelf. The author examines the ILR AO as an object of temporal and spatial changes that have shaped international customs -Arctic sector, "historical" sea and the Northern sea route. The cause of the current divergence in relation to the ILR AO, the author sees the recognition of these international customs: in one case, a dialectical approach that recognizes the customs, in other-the metaphysical, to deny the customs. In the context of actual problems of delimitation of the Arctic shelf dispute becomes a purely practical sense-the denial of the traditions involves the creation of the center of the Arctic Ocean area "the common heritage of mankind” and is in line with the political line of NATO and the EU, does not correspond to the national interests of the Russian Federation. On the contrary, the recognition of the customs allows observing the national interests in the delimitation of the Arctic shelf.