Russian Arctic by the experts eyes and users of the Internet

The future of Russia in the XXI century will largely be deter- mined in such a strategically important reserve, which is the Russian Arctic today, with its rich nat- ural resources, communication capabilities of the Northern Sea Route, kros polar and other routes, the growth of the perspectives in the Arctic tourism and the entire social and economic activity. However, the practical use of this resource potential is delayed due to various reasons. In an article published February 20, 2013 on the website of the Government of the Russian Federation Strategy of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation and national security for the period up to 2020 [5] that the current state of social and economic development of the Russian Arctic is characterized by the following risks and threats:

• а)    in the social sphere :

• V    negative demographic trends in most of the subjects of the Russian Arctic, the outflow of labor (especially skilled) in the southern regions of Russia and abroad;

• V    mismatch network of the social service nature and dynamics of the settlement, including in education, health, culture, physical education and sport;

• V    the critical state of the housing and communal services, inadequate supply of clean drinking water;

• V    the lack of effective training, the imbalance between supply and demand of labor in the territorial and professionally (shortage of workers and engineering professions and a surplus of unneeded specialists, as well as people with no vocational training);

• V    the poor quality of life of Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and Far East, living in the Russian Arctic;

• b)    in the economic sphere :

• V    The lack of the Russian modern equipment and technologies for exploration and the development of offshore hydrocarbon fields in the Arctic;

• V    the depreciation of fixed assets, particularly transport, industrial and energy infrastructure;

• V    the underdevelopment of basic transport infrastructure, its marine and continental components, aging icebreaker fleet, lack of small aircraft;

• V    the high energy consumption and low efficiency of extraction of natural resources, the costs of production in the northern no effective compensatory mechanisms, low productivity;

• V    the imbalance in the economic development between the individual pri arctic territories and regions, a significant gap between the leading and depressed areas in terms of development;

• V    the insufficient development of navigation-hydrographic and hydro-meteorological support of navigation;

• V    the lack of a comprehensive permanent space monitoring of the Arctic territories and water areas, dependence on foreign sources of funds and information management of all activities in the Arctic (including interaction with aircraft and vessels);

• V    Lack of modern information and telecommunication infrastructure that enables the provision of services to the population and economic entities across the Russian Arctic;

• V    undeveloped energy system, as well as the irrational structure of generating capacity, high cost of electricity generation and transportation;

• c)    in the field of the science and technology are the scarce technical resources and the technological capabilities to the study, development and use of the Arctic areas and resources, lack of readiness for the transition to the innovative development of the Russian Arctic;

• d)    in the sphere of nature and the environment stands increase technological and human impact on the environment with increased probability of reaching its limits in some areas adjacent to the Russian waters of the Arctic Ocean, as well as in certain regions of the Russian Arctic, characterized by the presence of extremely vulnerable areas, potential sources contamination, high levels of accumulated environmental damage.

• e)    in the sphere of science and technology are scarce technical resources and technological capabilities to the research, development and the use of the Arctic areas and resources, lack of readiness for the transition to innovative development of the Russian Arctic;

• f)    in the sphere of using Natural Resources and Environmental Protection released an increase of technogenic and anthropogenic impact on the environment with increased probability of reaching its limits in some areas adjacent to the Russian waters of the Arctic Ocean, as well as in certain regions of the Russian Arctic, characterized by the presence of extremely vulnerable areas, potential sources of contamination, a high level of accumulated environmental damage.

The strategy of the Russian Arctic strategy actually aims at minimizing the risks mentioned above, the complex socio-economic development, improving governance and the implementation of a specific designation in this most important document of long-term measures. Unfortunately, the strategic decision-making to their implementation in the Arctic there is a considerable distance. And not the fact that all decisions will be made in 2020, especially as the vector of the Russian state policy is increasingly shifting to the East, and Asia.

Trying to assess the actual folding situation in the Russian Arctic, the electronic scientific journal ‘The Arctic and North’ conducted an expert survey (December 2012 – February 2013), code-named ‘Black holes are the Arctic and its future’. The aim was to study the public opinion, to attract the attention of the government and business to the existing problems of the Russian Arctic. The editors thank all those who took part in the survey. Below are the answers to the open questions in the questionnaire and the analysis of the responses of Internet users, published on the website ‘Arctic info’, and the content of the interview with the governor of the Nenets Autonomous District I. Fedorov, which addresses the current problems of the current state of the Russian Arctic.

In the Arkhangelsk region, local experts, mostly working in the business, estimated the overall state of the affairs in the Russian Arctic as negative. The main problems were: 1) low income, poverty and misery of the general population; 2) the bureaucratization of control of our lives, and is spreading in the Arctic; 3) corruption, penetrating into the economy and policy, management, housing, education, health care; 4) the state of the modern transport infrastructure and communications (roads, all types of the transport, ports, railway stations, the technique used). It was noted that the federal structure of power and control (government, ministries, etc.) are almost systematic and effective work in the Russian Arctic and the northern Russia with regard to their specificity. Of course, this is a subjective opinion, but many experts believe that the main problems of the life in the Russian Arctic should decide the president and the government of the Russian Federation, in the regions - governors, not municipalities or by the people themselves. Municipal education of urban and rural areas of the Russian Arctic today just really do not have the budget and other resources to carry out their law № 131-FL ‘On General Principles of Local Self-Government in the Russian Federation’ dated October 6, 2003, as amended in 2004–2012 years. Function for 38 local development in full.

As the black hole experts noted, first of all, the conflict between economy and ecology, plundering of the resources. This is no accident. According to Russian experts, but there are 100 in the Russian Arctic environmental hot spots, including 23 district impacted as result of the negative impact of pollution on the natural and cultural environment, all the spheres of societies, ecosystems, threatening the life of the people [4].

Manifested obvious pessimism about the perspectives for the development of the Russian Arctic. For the suggestions and projects offered: the organization of the new jobs, supporting small and medium enterprises in the north, the development of environmentally friendly production, transportation, ports, do not treat the federal government to ‘disregard for the North’, and the governor of the Arkhangelsk region more professional management of the region. Unanimous opinion was the location of the administration of SMP in Archangelsk and its positioning as the capital of the Russian Arctic.

As for the Nenets Autonomous District, here as an adequate analysis of the expert evaluation of the situation using text RIA Novosti interview with the governor of the NAO Fedorov, in which it was drawing attention to the issues. Analyzing the results of 2012, the Governor focused on major infrastructure projects, the NAO [2]. 98 % of organizations in the economy NAO focused on the extraction of hydrocarbons. According to the estimates of leading experts, the resource potential of the NAO should provide for continued growth in 2027 annual production to 37 million tones per year, currently produces 15 million tones of oil per year. Among the major projects identified development of the Timan-Pechora and the fields in the Barents, Pechora and Kara Seas, the formation of offshore infrastructure based Prirazlomnoye field, development of transport and logistics infrastructure, node ‘Varandey terminal’ with the capacity to 12 million tonnes a year. In addition, in Naryanmar earns international airport.

The implementation of these projects in general gives the country a hydrocarbon independence, considerable finances in the form of tax on mineral extraction tax (MET). And what gives it to the Nenets district? After all, the growth of oil and gas budget of NAO wins nothing.

Answering on this question RIA Novosti, the governor of the NAO said that the Treasury District receives lucrative royalties from Kharyaginskiy PSA. ‘Only the first ten months of 2012 HSRP in the budget of the county was transferred to 5.6 billion rubles, which is half of the revenue side of our budget. The budget of the NAO is formed mainly due to the property tax, and we are making efforts to ensure that companies mining companies operating in the district were recorded here. I mentioned above the platform ‘Prirazlomnaya’, which has attributed to our seaport. Exact figures cannot name yet, but, according to preliminary data, the property tax on it will be several hundred million rubles to the county coffers every year’ [2].

In the NAO successfully developed the social partnership with the operators, are the socioeconomic agreements, in line with oil building in Naryan-Mar and towns various facilities - schools, kindergartens. ‘The closest example: burned house in the village Telviska. We agreed with OAO ‘Pechora-oil’ and LLC ‘Kolvinskoye’, included in the oil company ‘Alliance’ that they will fund the construction of 24-apartment house in the village, which in 2013 is to be built’.

The problem is, how willing mining companies for such cooperation are. After all, their business – is to produce hydro carbons, and no one can force oil companies to build social facilities (RIA News).

I. Fedorov said that ‘someone talks are easier with someone difficult... But in the end, all of us agree that there is a social responsibility for the people on the indigenous territory of which they are working and producing oil. It is from such cooperation has grown a project that will raise the county’s population lives to a new level. It is a project of gasification of the NAO, which has gained quite a concrete shape in 2012 in the district are more than 520 billion cubic meters. Meters of gas, but the Nenets settlements have not gasified. The region has no gas transportation infrastructure; the gas is used only for the city of Naryan-Mar and nearby villages Searchers, Red and Telviska. The governor of the NAO in November 2012 signed a general scheme for gasification of settlements Nenets Autonomous District, prepared by the specialists of ‘Gazprom’ [2].

Gazprom on their own resources and in-house developed projects and plans to implement it in the next few years. Villages and up the Pechora get gas, go into the past annual northern delivery, consuming a lot of energy and resources, environmental benefits, not to mention the economics of power generation on gas. Since his arrival, the village will not only be more comfortable to live, but also to develop. At a meeting with the management of Gazprom to consider and to build on the NAO condensate processing plant to develop gasoline fractions. This will deliver to remote areas of the region's own production of fuel, the cost of which, of course, will be lower than the current one. As you know, today, the NAO no processing facility, and within northern delivery to the villages of the region delivered gasoline and diesel fuel. This large-scale project was joined company ‘Pechora LNG’, whose plant construction project in Indiga for liquefied natural gas in 2012, passed the stage of pre-investment studies. Experts have concluded that the production, liquefaction and further transportation of natural gas from the NAO cost effective. The resource base for future LNG plant will Kumzhinskoye Korovinskoe and gas condensate fields. And the company is willing to consider gasification of villages along the route of the gas pipeline from the fields to the loading terminal on the Barents Sea [2]. Thus, not only solved the problem of gasification of settlements NAO, but also reduces the northern delivery, develops a completely different socioeconomic situation.

In the NAO begins to solve another strategically important issue for the region: the revival of an abandoned in the 90’s. The twentieth century transport infrastructure, an example of which was the settlement Amderma. ‘The fate of Amderma deserves mention – said Fedorov. This is a – sign the settlement in the history of the district. Results of the Marine Board, a Security Council meeting, numerous letters and appeals to federal departments and agencies, my personal meetings with leaders of various levels yielded results: the Amderma Amderma airport and noticed the federal government. In January 2012 there was established the federal government enterprise that has allowed state funds to repair the runway, to buy equipment, pay salaries to the staff. There is an idea to build in Amderma rescue emergencies center to eliminate possible emergencies during field development on the Arctic shelf, as well as for maintenance of the Northern Sea Route. Today the nearest rescue center of the NSR is in Murmansk. The lack of reliable base for emergency response at sea in the Arctic during the activation of work on the shelf makes really consider how we are going to save the people, if the need arises. In addition, during a meeting with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, I drew his attention to the located 20 km from Amderma in alignment Kara Strait Morozova deep bay, where it can be established polar strategic port on the Northern Sea Route. He will be able to take large vessels offer shelter transit of vessels coming in difficult meteorological conditions, serve as a place for parking and repairing. Recall that in the strategy of the Ministry of Transport of Russia until 2030 and JSC ‘Russian Railways’ plans to build railway Vorkuta – Ust-Kara – Amderma. That is, Amderma great future. Our settlements on the coast – a kind of frontier posts, because the entire coastline of the Nenets Autonomous District – the state border. The people living there are in fact advocates borders of our country. And for them to be appropriate conditions’ [2].

Complex infrastructure projects will ultimately promote the quality of life of people living in the district. There are resources and political will to address the urgent and can be said for a long time already overripe problems of indigenous people. ‘As for the support of traditional farming, the NAO management pays great attention to the social support of the workers of the tundra, and the preservation and the development of national culture and language of the Nenets. To make the Nenets language official status in law drafted legislation defining the rights Nenets language and its possible use in the official documents and place names in the national autonomy. The region has adopted and effectively works long-term program to develop the agricultural sector in general and the reindeer industry in particular. By the number of reindeer district ranks fourth among 18 subjects of the Russian Federation, practicing reindeer herding. Today I am proud to say our progress in the development of this industry’, – said the governor NAO – I. Fedorov.

In the sphere of managing the territory, to the Governor of the NAO, there is nothing better and more effective than an active community of the executive and legislative branches of government. Their close cooperation provides the basis for real progress. ‘But generally speaking, if we can finish the beginnings in 2012, in a fairly short time Nenets autonomous district will not know’ [2]. For the optimistic conclusion Fedorov has a well-founded, sound policies and good governance, to improve the quality of life of the Arctic territory.

The opinions of the Moscow experts and their answers to the open questionnaire to the journal ‘Arctic and North’. B. Blashenkova, the development director of consulting company ‘Specifics’, candidate of political sciences, expert on branding areas, author of ‘Brand areas: the creation and promotion. As in Russia’ (2011), for example, in his response said that Murmansk promoted more than the Archangel, and explained why she thinks so: ‘Unfortunately, to the vast majority of the survey questions I cannot answer because I do not know the situation in the Arctic and in the Arkhangelsk region. We usually respond to the questions, if there are numbers, facts, and a small but their own research, and judging from the position of ‘do not know, but I say’, do not want to. As for the ‘Arctic issues’, then I think it is interesting and productive. But for me personally, is more related to the Arctic Murmansk. Perhaps because there several times visited the city is above the Arctic Circle, heard of large projects, etc. I think Murmansk promoted more about him more information in federal mass media, including the fact that in terms of staff, the companies belonging to the federal FIGs and these companies free write on economic topics. A ready flow of information, which is mentioned in the context of Murmansk. Arkhangelsk yet rarely mentioned. Archangel in my mind – is the Russian North, Lomonosov, the discoverers, shipbuilding, timber, fish and water. Such stereotypes.

Now about the brand. How are the objectives aimed at the promotion of Arkhangelsk to the Arctic, it is not clear to me (at least for now). Still, the brand should solve the problems of the city. But I suppose that does not have any information. It's about moving or opening facilities, attracting tourists and the implementation of specific projects arctic? That is what goals sets the city in the context of the Arctic theme, personally, I do not know. It is desirable to define these goals in terms of quantity. This increase in the number of the Arctic expeditions through Arkhangelsk, exploration, trade, etc. What is it? Which target groups should go calculation – oil / gas companies, scientists, actually northerners? I’m not clear, you need much more information – expert interviews. This does not mean that I do not like the application of Arkhangelsk – the capital of the Russian Arctic. This means that I’m not ready to assess, as a lack of information, including the goals and objectives. For example, I do not know where and how the boundaries of the Russian Arctic and whether it is generally allocate the Russian Arctic. It might be better to take a broader?’.

Argumented answers and suggestions on the specific Arctic project we received from a renowned expert A. Khramchikhin, deputy director of the Institute for Military Studies. He said: ‘Summary of the general state of affairs today in the Russian Arctic – negative. Corruption, bureaucracy, lack of government leadership development strategy as a whole and for individual sectors are not exclusive Arctic issues, is the all-Russian problems. The main problems specifically Arc- tic – climate and poor transportation infrastructure. But complaining about the climate seems pointless, since, first, the person only to a small extent, can influence it, and secondly, climate change is also a problem, sometimes much larger than its preservation, it was especially evident the example of the Arctic. Accordingly, the main problem is transport. It cannot be considered a ‘monopoly’ of the Arctic regions, but, nevertheless, here it appears much sharper than in the south of Siberia and the Far East, and, even more so than in European Russia. Her decision prevents just climate and vast distances. However, without the development of all major modes of transportation talk about the prospects of the Arctic is totally meaningless.

There are strong suspicions that the dramatic changes in the future will happen. Like today, will develop faster pace and Yamal-Nenets, and the rest, at best, will maintain the current level.

Objectively, the capital of the Russian Arctic should be Archangelsk. However, today the Murmansk had already ‘stolen’ the title. Archangelsk now need to take enough great efforts to change the situation. First of all, you need to appeal to history, and in this respect, we can use ‘resource’ Solovki (as they relate to the Arkhangelsk region). In addition, the necessary development projects, which would give an advantage over Murmansk Arkhangelsk. They can be developed only in the region.

Today, all of the ports of Arkhangelsk have the least chance to place the administration of the Northern Sea Route. Even the prospect of Tiksi better because it is located almost in the middle of the NSR. Archangelsk can win only if you offer a well-established project of placing the administration, and then be able to skillfully lobby in Moscow. Obviously, the entire infrastructure under this administration will have to build from scratch. Perhaps it is this could be the advantage of Arkhangelsk, the more so in regard to transport it easily accessible from the capital’.

Projects of A. A. Khramchikhin on the Arctic policy of the Russian state as follows:

• 1)    Accommodation along the Arctic coast of the Arctic crews 5–7 arctic brigades (Kola Peninsula, the area of Arkhangelsk - Severodvinsk, Salekhard, Yamal, Norilsk Dudinka, Tiksi, Chukotka). Technically, the project has already voiced MO, but so far it itself does not know what I meant.

• 2)    The moving of the base of the PKK CH SF from the Western Litsa – Yagelnaya – Gadzhievo in the Arkhangelsk region – Severodvinsk. Current deployment of this important strategic facility near the border looks very strange. Need to move it to the border, placing near the site of construction PKK CH and safe in terms of the deployment and patrolling the White Sea. Accordingly, in this area we need to strengthen air defense group, coastal defense and the deployment of at least one of the aforementioned Arctic brigades.

• 3)    The Development of NSRs. It should be as convenient for commercial shipping (domestic and foreign) in the navigation, and in the economic terms. Apparently, a special law or even a series of laws on SMEs. Must take into account the sad experience of Transsib, all transit capacity which destroyed the complexity of customs procedures.

• 4)    The construction of the railway along the Arctic coast, which would be a ‘double’ of the NSR. In the short term (up to 2030) through the use of already existing sites need to focus on the construction of the road Murmansk – Norilsk (Dudinka). Bring the road to Anadyr unlikely even by 2050, the more so in this way you need at least four drainage to the south (still unfinished Belkomur not even started a line from Norilsk to Krasnoyarsk and from Anadyr to Tiksi and Yakutsk). However, the construction of these roads is necessary. Of course, this is an extremely complex and too expensive project, but without all the talk about the development of the Arctic and the Far East is nothing more than demagoguery. Moreover, considerable efforts and tightened claims to the territory of the USA and China, as Russia more and more clearly to act as a ‘dog on the hay’ in the conditions of the increasing scarcity of resources.

In turn, my author's proposal concerns the art. 2 of the Federal Law ‘On the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation’ dated January 23, 2013 [3]. According to the article, in the Russian Arctic, in whole or in part from the position thalassocracy included in nine Russian regions bordering the coast of the Arctic seas: the Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions, Nenets and Yamal-Nenets and Chukotka Autonomous District, Krasnoyarsk Territory, the Republic of Karelia (three MO) , the Republic of Komi (Vorkuta), the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Also: a) open and able to be open in the future of land and islands in the Arctic Ocean north of the coast of the Russian Federation to the North Pole; b) the internal waters and territorial sea of the Russian Federation; c) the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of the Russian Federation within the sovereign rights and jurisdiction of the Russian Federation; d) the airspace above listed territories and waters.

The inventory of land, waters, continental shelf, air space of the Russian Arctic, in my opinion, not enough of the Northern Sea Route as a historical national transport communications in the wording of the Federal Law of the Russian Federation № 132-FL ‘On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation regarding state regulation of commercial navigation in the waters of the Northern sea Route’ [6]. The concept of area is not used in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1982 is therefore very important to fix this legal concept in national law, given the fact that the passage of ships through the Northern Sea Route in addition to the usual route along the Russian coast and straits are also high-latitude routes beyond inland waters and the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). In this regard, I consider it necessary to add the following para- graph in the draft of the Federal Law on the inclusion of the Russian Arctic: ‘Article 2. e) of the Northern Sea Route as the historical national transport communication of Russia’.

During the survey we were interested in the opinion of all who live in Arkhangelsk, Severodninsk, Onega, Kem, Belomorsk Murmansk, Apatity, Naryan-Mar, Vorkuta, Cyktyvkare, Salekhard Dudinka, Norilsk, Tiksi, Yakutsk, Anadyr and other cities, municipal settlements Arkhangelsk and Murmansk regions, Nenets and Yamal-Nenets and Chukotka Autonomous District, Krasnoyarsk Territory, the Republic of Komi and Sakha (Yakutia), in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other Russian regions. Unfortunately, this problem has not been realized, as the survey is mainly attended by respondents in Arkhangelsk region and Moscow.

Apparently, this does not make sense to conduct a survey, using only the power of the Internet, as its users are actually already used to answer very short questions with respect to certain events immediately get an overall picture of the results of answers. As an example, the results of skid surveys of successful online ‘Arctic info’ on topical issues of the development of the Russian Arctic. [1]

Where, in your opinion, should be located Administration of the Northern Sea Route? Poll ended 12.02.2013, only 267 people voted. The answers were as follows:

1	The office of the administration should be in each sea - port of SMP (Tiksi, Pevek, Sabetta)	37.82 %
2	In one of the biggest Sea ports in North Sea route, for example in Arkhangelsk	35.58 %
3	In Saint -Petersburg, n the Sea capital of Russia	13.85 %
4	In Moscow, where all federal agencies are	12.73 %
Do you think it is justified by a ‘general cleaning’ in the Arctic? Poll ended 11.15.2012, only 403 people voted.
1	Yes, its our duty and our mistakes	67.24 %
2	Yes, we will need clean territories in the nearest future	18.85 %
3	I don’t see a necessity, nature will change it	8.93 %
4	No, its too expensive	4.96 %
Do you support the initiative to rename the Arctic Ocean in Russian? only 153 people voted.		Poll ended 06.09.2012,
1	This is not possible, the new name will not be accepted	50.98 %
2	Yes, because it is our history	31.37 %
3	No, it will cause a negative reaction in other countries	17.64 %
ed.	Why Russia does needs frontier in the Arctic? Poll ended 20.06.2012, only 133 people vot-
1	Border Protection	60.15 %
2	Anti poaching	28.57 %
3	Travel Aid	11.27 %

Do we need to develop the Arctic ? The survey completed 01.06.2012, totally 243 voted.

1	Yes, because in the Arctic we have natural resources, which we need	81.48 %
2	No, It is already developed	12.34 %
3	No, do we really have anything for the development?	6.17 %
How will influence the adoption of the law ‘On the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation’in its development? Only 110 people voted.
1	Depends of the effectiveness in the implementation	35.45 %
2	The increase of the development	28.19 %
3	No effect	22.73 %
4	Slow down of the development of the Arctic territories	13.64 %

The greatest interest among the web users, who read news on the website ‘Arctic info’, was the issue of general cleaning in the Arctic (403 responses), in second place – is the question of the capital of the SMP (267 responses) and the third – the need to develop the Arctic (243 responses) . The least interest was the question of the impact of the law on the Russian Arctic to the development of the Arctic (110 responses), which can be explained not high enough level of awareness of the respondents on this bill and its importance to the Russian Arctic.

The general conclusion can be that during the analysis of public opinion polls best, apparently, to use the target audience of a competent, professionally concerned with issues of the Russian Arctic, well prepared for such surveys, knowing what was going on and ready to respond. This may be the participants of conferences, workshops, forums and other events, teachers and university students, researchers, managers, administrators, officials at the municipal, regional and federal levels, and the journalists who own information and writing in the arctic theme.

The possibilities of the Internet are more suitable for the interviews of overture type on the one – three concrete questions about the development of the Russian Arctic.