President Dmitry Medvedev has issued a decree appointing Artur Chilingarov special presidential representative for international cooperation on the Arctic and Antarctica.

In the same decree Mr Medvedev released Mr Chilingarov from his duties as special presidential representative for International Polar Year and in the international polar research programme.

Mr Chilingarov is the deputy speaker of the State Duma (the lower house of parliament) and is a well-known oceanographer and explorer of the Arctic and Antarctica, according to the Kremlin.ru website.

News Date: 10/12/2008
Outlet: Skrin