Russia has decided to leave the Barents Euro-Arctic Council (BEAC) and notified top diplomats of member states of the organization, the foreign ministry said on Monday.
According to the ministry, activities of the organization have been pretty much paralyzed since March 2022 due to actions of the Western countries, while the Finnish presidency did not confirm its readiness to transfer the presidency to Russia in October 2023, in violation of the rotation principle.
“Under the current conditions, we are forced to announce the withdrawal of the Russian Federation from the BEAC,” the ministry said in a statement.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov notified foreign ministers of BEAC member states, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and the International Barents Secretariat in Kirkenes (Norway) on September 18, 2023, about Moscow’s decision, the ministry added.
“Russia will continue to implement its national goals in the North. We remain open to interaction with everyone who is constructive and ready for equal dialogue and mutually beneficial teamwork,” the ministry said.