Arctic Council DECLARATION ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ARCTIC COUNCIL JOINT COMMUNIQUE OF THE GOVERNMENTS, OF THE ARCTIC COUNTRIES ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ARCTIC COUNCIL Ouawa, Canada September 19, 1996DECLARATION ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ARCTIC COUNCIL ‘THE REPRESENTATIVES of the Governments of Canada, Denmark, Finland, leeland, Norway, the Russian Fedecation, Sweden and the United Sues of America (here- ‘alter referred to asthe Arete States) meeting in Ortaway AFFIRMING our commitment o the wellbeing of the ibitams of the Arete, Including recognition of the special relationship and unique conwibutions to the Arctic of indigenous people and their communities; AFFIRMING oor commionent to sustainable development by the Arctic region, Incluling economic and social development, omproved health conditions and cultural well bei AFFIRMING concurrently our commitment to the protection of the Arete environ rent, including the health of Arctic ecosystems, matatenance of biodiversity in the Arie region and conservation and sustainable use of naaural resources; RECOGNIZING the contsibutions ofthe Arctic Eovironmental Protection Strategy to these commitments, RECOGNIZING thse traditional knowledge of the indigenous people of the Arctic fond dheir comminities and taking note of Ks imporiance and that of Arete selenee and reseavch tothe collective understanding ofthe escumpolar Arctic; DESIRING farther t provide 2 means for promating cooperative aeivties 10 adavess Avetie ius requiring circampolar cooperation, an to ensure fll consultation with snl the full involvement of indigenosis people and thelr communities and other inhabitants of the Arete isch activites, RECOGNIZING the valuable contribution and support of she tnuit Cieumpotar Conference, Sami Council, and the Association of the Indigenous Minorities ofthe Nort Siberia, andthe Fur East of the Russian Federation in the development of the Aveile Couns DESIRING to provide for regular intergovernmental consideration of and consult Won on Atele issues, HEREBY DECLARE: 1. ‘The Arete Council established as a igh level forum to: G@) provide # means for promoting cooperation, coordination and Interaction Among the Arce Siates, with the involvement of the Artic indigenous com- ‘munities and other Artie inhabitants on common Ate issues. tn particular issues of sustainable development and environment peatetion in the Ave (8) oversee and coordinate the programs established under the AEPS on he Arctic Moattoting and Assessment Program (AMAP); Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF); Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME); and Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response (EPPR),() adopt terms ofelerence for ancl oversee and coordinate a sustrinable develay- men progeam, (@) disseminate information, encourage education and promote invenest fn Avctic- seated issues, 2. Members ofthe Aretle Council are: Canada, Denmark, Fluland, iceland, Norway. the Russian Federation, Sweden and she United States of America (the Arce Slates) The Inuit Circumpolar Conferenes, the Saami Council and the Association of Indigenous Minorities of the North, Siberia andthe Par East ofthe Russian Federation are Permanent Participants in the Arctic Couneil. Permanent participation equally is ‘open to other Arce organizations of indigenous peoples" with mnjority Arctic inige- nous constieney, representing G@)__s.single indigenous people resident in more than one Artie Ste; or (b)_ more than one Acie indigenous people resident in a single Artie state “The determination that such an organization bis met this criterion is to be mae by lesion of the Couneil. The numberof Permanent Pa less than the number of members ats should at any time be “The eategory of Permanent Pantiipation i created to provide for active partieipation and fall consolation with the Arctie indigenous representatives within the Arctic Cooncil 3. Observer status inthe Arctle Coun ¢ open to (@—nom-Are (b) —inter.governmental and inter parliamentary oxgantations, global ancl reglonal and (© non-governmental onanizations ‘hat the Council determines can contribute « work 4 The Counet should normally meet om a biennial bess, with meetings of senior officials taking place more frequently to provide for liaison and co-ordination, Each Arctic State should designate a focal point on matcis related to the Artie Coun 5. Responsibility for hosting meetings of the Arctic Caunel, Including provision of sec retaiat suppor functions should rotate sequentilly among the Arete Stes, 6, Thhe Arctic Coun, as ts frst vrder of business, should adopt rules of procedure for its mecdigs and those ofits working groups 7. Decisions of the Arie Councl are 0 be by consensus of the Members, ‘The se a thee angle" ths Dedarstion shal et be esr sin ny ins op ‘hetighs wtih may tack th ems cnr aration lew8 ‘The Indigenous Peoples’ Secretariat established under AEPS isto continue wider the framework of the Arete Council The Aree Couneit should regularly review che prionties and financing of ts programs andl essociaved strictures, THEREFORE, we the undersigned represeataives of our respective Goveroments, recog nizing the Arctic Councils political significance an intending to promote its tess, heve s iq this Declaration IGNED by the representatives of the Arctic States in Otiawa, this 19th day of September 1996, For THE GOVERN! FOR THESOVERNMENT OF CANADA (OF DENMARK I bow LE Nhituata - god hay nny FORTHE GOVERNMENT ‘OR THE GOVERNMENT OF FINLAND OF ICELAND = (OF NORWAY fea Auth dr Cruel k, buh ‘OR THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF OF SWEDEN THE UNITED STATES (OF AMERICAJOINT COMMUNIQUE OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE ARCTIC COUNTRIES ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ARCTIC COUNCIL Minfsters and Senior Representatives of the Governments of Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, the Russian Federation, Sweden and the United States of Anvetica met it ‘Ouawa, Canada, on September 19, 1996, ane signed the Declaration on the Extablishinent of the Arctic Council "his inaugural mecting was attended by the leidets snd genio representatives of thre inter- rational Arctic indigenous organizations ~ the Inuit Clreumpolse Conference, the Saami Council, and the Association of indigenous Minovties of the North, Siberia, and the Far East ofthe Russian Federation, as Permanent Participants i she Council Also present athe signing ceremony were the Standing Committee of Pavtanentatians of the Arctic Region: the Nordic Council of Ministers; the Nondie Counell Finnish Seevtatat; the hon-Aretio States. of Great Britwin, Germany. Japan, Poland and the Netherlands: the Inernational Union for Circumpolar Health; the Intemational Arce Seieuce Committe; the United Nations Environment Progranime; the International Union for the Conservation of "Nature: the Advisory Commitee on Proietion of the Sea; andthe Word Wildlife Fund, Ministers viewed che establistinent of this new intergovernmental forum as an important mille stone in their coinmitment to enhance cooperation tn the Grewmpolar North. The Counell wall provide a mechanism for addsessng the common concerns and challenges face hy thei gov fermments and the people of the Arete: To his end, Ministers referred partitlany to the pro- lection of the Arete environment and sustainable developsnent as a means of improving The economic, social and cultural well-being in the Nort ‘Ministers noted that he tnligencus people ofthe Arctic have played an important cle i she ‘egolstions to crete the Arctic Council. The Declaration provides for thet full consultation. and involvement in the Arctic Council. To this end, the Inuit Citeunpolar Conference, the Saami Council andthe Association of the Indigenous Minorities ofthe Noth, Siberia, and the Tar East ofthe Russian Federation, ate named as Permanent Participants in the Artie Cone Provision is also made for addivional organizations representing Arctic indigenous people to become Permanent Participants, Ministers acknowledged dhe significant work accomplished wnder the Ateic Environmental Protection Stategy (AEPS), whose existing programs will be integrated within the Counell ‘They agreed co complete the integration process by the Lime of the final AEPS Ministerial meet- ing being held in Norway in 1907. The Ministers vecognized the contribwtien of imtemational scence to the knowiedge and tunderstanding of the Arctic region and noted the role that scienite cooperation, thvough the International Ateic Science Committee and other organizations, is playing in developing touly cireumpelar cooperation, Ministers welcomed the ateendance ofthe Standing Comnattee of the Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region and looked forvard to its foture paretpation in the meetings of the Council ‘They also recognized the need for providing the opportunity to non-Arctic countries, govern: ‘mental and non-governmental oanizations with Arce interests to paritpate acuvely, (Observers, in the work of the Couneil, and 1o disw on thei experience ‘Ministers set the inital privity asks for the startaip of the Coun as follows: + developing, for adoption by the Council, rules of procedure, + developing, for adoption by che Couneil, terms of reference for sustsinable developaient ‘ogram os basis fr collaborative projects: and + cnsuring an effective uanstion of dhe AEPS into the Arctle Cou, ta be completed t the ‘inte of the 1997 AEPS Ministerial meeding in Norway Ministers expressed their appreciation to Canada for hosting the inauguration of the Arctic Council, and welcomed Canada’ offer to host the frst mecting ofthe Count in 1998,