Russia has reiterated its claim to Artic oil and gas deposits, saying that testing of samples gathered in an expedition has proven that a vast mountain range under the Arctic Ocean is part of Russia, Interfax reported Thursday.
Samples of earth taken by Russians who planted titanium flag on the seabed below the North Pole in August prove that the undersea Lomonosov Ridge is connected to the Russia mainland, Russia's Natural Resources Ministry said Thursday, Interfax reported.
The Russian Arctic expedition planted a flag on the seabed directly below the North Pole and symbolically claimed the area, which is thought to be rich in minerals and energy deposits.
Other countries with claims to the area such as Norway and Denmark dismissed the Russian expedition as "irrelevant" state propaganda.
To stake its symbolic claim, Russia had its polar researchers plant a rust-resistant titanium Russian tricolour on the sea floor at the beginning of August.
Denmark, which has also laid claims to the 1,800 kilometre-long undersea Lomonosov mountain range, criticized the action as a "meaningless stunt for the media."
The other polar states Canada, the United States and Norway also asserted their claims to the region.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is hoping to secure its claim to the Lomonosov range at the United Nations by 2009.
It is estimated that there are 10 billion tons of oil and gas in the polar region worth more than 1 trillion dollars.
(Deutsche Press-Agentur-(dpa))