00CS FOR SS FOR SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 18(STA)                                                                       
01 Relating to establishment of an Arctic council.                                                                         
02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
03  WHEREAS there are many Arctic issues that are common to the nations of the                                             
04 circumpolar north, and these issues can be addressed most effectively in a multilateral forum                           
05 that promotes cooperation and concerted action; and                                                                     
06  WHEREAS a regional multilateral forum for the Arctic would provide a focus for                                         
07 anticipating and addressing current and future problems of the Arctic, capitalizing on new                              
08 opportunities for the Arctic, and involving residents of the Arctic in a discussion of the issues                       
09 that affect them directly; and                                                                                          
10  WHEREAS the creation of a multinational Arctic council has been proposed to                                            
11 provide a permanent, intergovernmental policy forum for the eight Arctic nations, including                             
12 the United States, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, and Sweden; and                                   
13  WHEREAS Alaska should play a prominent and active role in developing a policy                                          
14 forum for the Arctic; and                                                                                               

01  WHEREAS an Arctic council would be the only existing international institution that                                    
02 is mandated to address and manage the full range of common Arctic concerns; and                                         
03  WHEREAS an Arctic council would be a key body to ensure international cooperation                                      
04 and coordination on sustainable development of the Arctic; and                                                          
05  WHEREAS an Arctic council would ensure greater efficiency and effectiveness in                                         
06 handling Arctic issues, by providing focus and, where appropriate, recommending policy                                  
07 direction to existing agencies with authority over Arctic-related issues, creating by consensus                         
08 additional working groups only where necessary, and by influencing and coordinating with                                
09 other international organizations;                                                                                      
10   BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature supports the establishment of                                        
11 an Arctic  council consisting of the eight nations having territory or jurisdiction in the Arctic                       
12 and urges the President and the Congress of the United States to take whatever action is                                
13 necessary to support establishment of an Arctic council and to enable the United States to                              
14 become an active member of the council.                                                                                 
15  COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Bill Clinton, President of the                                
16 United States; to the Honorable Al Gore, Jr., Vice-President of the United States and President                         
17 of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Newt Gingrich, Speaker of the U.S. House of                                           
18 Representatives; the Honorable Warren Christopher, U.S. Secretary of State; and to the                                  
19 Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the                                         
20 Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.