"Signed in 1991, the Bering Sea agreement with the United States has not been ratified. It has to be complemented by a fishing agreement. The talks are difficult but fishermen say this is possible", the foreign minister said at the session of the Russian Marine Board.
This is a ministerial priority in Russia's maritime activity, he said.
Another priority is ensuring navigation for Russian vessels in the world ocean.
"There are problems for the passage of Russian ships through international straits. Foreign countries give much attention to navigational and environmental safety, using them as a pretext for limitations," Sergei Lavrov said.
"Environmental safety is environmental safety but it is often motivated by the desire to prevent competition from our carriers. We will firmly oppose attempts at artificially raising the problem, but we also have to take trends in environmental management into account," he said.
He cited as another two ministerial priorities the struggle against international terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by sea, as well as ensuring Russian interests within the framework of the seabed organization.
Sergei Lavrov proposes setting up an interdepartmental commission for Spitsbergen in order to secure Russia's interests in the region "above all, the interests of the Arktikugol concern and the Russians residing in Spitsbergen."
The Russian foreign minister has also proposed drawing up new navigation rules for the Northern Sea Route.
"The Northern Sea Route has a strategic status for our country. The development of new rules of navigation is needed to consolidate this status. The Transportation Ministry has already drafted a relevant document", Sergei Lavrov said.
