The session's attendees approved the coal mining company ArcticUgol's 2009-2010 performance report and its business plan for the year ahead. They reaffirmed the strategic importance of a Russian business presence in Spitsbergen while at the same time highlighting the need to increase the efficiency of the operations there.

"It's important to provide appropriate budget allocations for Russian companies operating at Spitsbergen," Mr Zubkov said. "To solve this issue, we should promote the partnership between the state and private business and diversify Russian activity in the archipelago."

Having reviewed a report on the budgetary funds used to promote Russian owned business operations on Spitsbergen in 2010, Mr Zubkov insisted that timely financing should be ensured for economic and scientific activity in the archipelago this year.

He highlighted the importance of carrying out the president's and the government's assignments related to the preparation of a comprehensive programme for the advancement of economic and other activity in the archipelago.

"This programme will ensure a long-term Russian presence on the archipelago," Mr Zubkov explained. "Russian companies' activity in Spitsbergen should be diversified, with a special emphasis on recreation, scientific research, and exploratory work. In this regard, I'd like our fellow commission member Artur Chilingarov to arrange the discussion and development of related recommendations, including discussions with the public organizations concerned. The programme should include the creation of an Arctic Institute for Fishery and Ocean Studies branch in Spitsbergen. I'd like the Federal Fishery Agency to draft the justification for this project."

While discussing issues related to fishery in Russia's northern seas, commission members underscored the paramount role that the Russian-Norwegian Commission for Fishery plays in the sustainable development of the biological reserves of the Barents Sea.

The commission decided that a draft strategy for Russian presence in Spitsbergen should be finalised and submitted to the Cabinet for consideration before June 10th.