Russia withdraws from Barents Euro-Arctic Council

Russia has chosen to secede from the Barents Euro-Arctic Council, according to a statement from Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Monday. The Barents Council was established in 1993 and consists of Denmark, the European Commission, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia and Sweden. The Presidency rotates every two years between Finland, Norway, Russia and Sweden. Denmark has never held the presidency. Russia’s farewell to the Council comes as Russia is unwilling to take over the presidency as planned in October. “We are convinced that the immediate political situation, which our North European neighbours are going by, does not correspond to the long-term interests of the inhabitants of the polar region. The responsibility for the collapse of the Barents cooperation architecture lies entirely with our ‘partners,’” the ministry said, according to TASS. /ritzau/TASS/