<\/p>\n
For mange ti\u00e5r<\/strong> (decades) Norway and Russia have argued over ownership of 175,000 sq. km.\u00a0in Barentshavet <\/strong>(the Barents Sea).\u00a0 You might be wondering what the big deal is about Barentshavet<\/strong>.\u00a0 It’s just water, right?\u00a0 No, it’s money, and lots of it.\u00a0 Tens of billions of barrells of olje<\/strong> (oil) and 1-3 of the world’s undiscovered natural gass<\/strong> (gas) are believed to be sleeping peacefully in this disputed area of Barentshavet.\u00a0 <\/strong>Now both countries will likely benefit from the wealth under this sea.<\/p>\n Just today Russia’s President Dmitiri Medvedev and Norway’s Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg struck a kompromiss<\/strong> (compromise), and a rettferdig <\/strong>(fair) one at that!\u00a0 Although the details have yet to be worked out,\u00a0 the kompromiss<\/strong>\u00a0provides each country with half of the 68,ooo sq. mile territory.\u00a0 Prior to the meeting between Medvedev and Stoltenberg, experts on relations between the 2 countries did not expect such\u00a0a breakthrough.\u00a0 As we know all too well from countless other international conflicts, it is hard for countries to give up something they have fought for for so long, especially if it means giving up the opportunity for such\u00a0great wealth.\u00a0 I think any country would have fought as hard as these two did for the opportunities that lay beneath the water’s surface.\u00a0 I’m not so sure some other countries would have reached a kompromiss<\/strong>\u00a0quite as easily.<\/p>\n Now more than ever it is important to straighten out ownership of this area in Barentshavet.\u00a0 Globaleoppvarming<\/strong> (global warming) is shrinking the ice that has previously hindered shipping and\u00a0olje<\/strong> exploration.\u00a0 Both countries have already begun to develop the ressurser<\/strong> (resources) in the area.\u00a0 The Norwegian company\u00a0Statoil<\/em>, the world’s largest offshore olje<\/strong> and gass<\/strong> company brought the Sn\u00f8hvit natural gas field on line a few years ago, while Russia has been developing the Shtokman natural gas field.<\/p>\n More important perhaps than the enormous wealth that will undoubtedly come from this disputed area in I welcome any and all comments, whether they be in support of the olje<\/strong> and gass<\/strong> exploration in the area, or in protest based on environmental concerns.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" For mange ti\u00e5r (decades) Norway and Russia have argued over ownership of 175,000 sq. km.\u00a0in Barentshavet (the Barents Sea).\u00a0 You might be wondering what the big deal is about Barentshavet.\u00a0 It’s just water, right?\u00a0 No, it’s money, and lots of it.\u00a0 Tens of billions of barrells of olje (oil) and 1-3 of the world’s…<\/p>\n
\nBarentshavet<\/strong>\u00a0is the newfound cooperative spirit in the north.\u00a0 This cooperation will hopefully lead to increased trade and industry development, as well as cultural relations and employment opportunities.\u00a0 Let’s give a hand to Medvedev and Stoltenberg and their closest advisors for coming to this kompromiss<\/strong>.<\/p>\n