Yuri Trutnev: no rights and advantages received by Russia should be reduced or infringed

Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation - Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev chaired a meeting of the Government Commission to ensure the Russian presence in the Spitsbergen archipelago. “Before we begin the commission meeting, I want to say that more than a hundred years ago – on February 9, 1920 – the Treaty on Spitsbergen was signed in Paris. The government commission is called to ensure the Russian presence in the Spitsbergen archipelago. I think everyone present understands well that now is not the best time to develop international cooperation. Rather, humanity is going through a stage of deepening contradictions. However, I want to say that this only increases our responsibility for observing the basic principle. It is, in my opinion, very simple. No rights and benefits acquired by Russia should be reduced or infringed. You and I have no right to take a single step back. Today, our soldiers are shedding blood for the sovereignty of our country, for the right of people to speak Russian. I think that work here in the Government should be treated the same way, that work here is also a fight for our sovereignty, a fight for the rights of Russia and Russians,” Yuri Trutnev opened the meeting.