Agreement

There are excellent prospects for future joint Russia-USA cooperation in research in the North Pacific and Arctic, encompassing the State of Alaska in the USA, and the area of responsibility of FEBRAS in the Russian Federation, to include the contiguous waters of the Pacific and Arctic Oceans and adjacent seas. However, no adequate agreements or mechanisms exist to promote this cooperation. Therefore,

Realizing that international cooperation in the field of science and technology pertaining to the North Pacific and Arctic (herein "Arctic region") will strengthen the bonds of friendship and understanding between both countries;

Considering that scientific and technological cooperation pertaining to these areas is important for the development of their respective national economies;

Recognizing that significant interrelated, atmospheric, oceanic and terrestrial global environmental changes have recently occurred and that exploration and research are necessary to provide the information needed to understand the magnitude and effects of these global changes on the environment;

Realizing that the Arctic region is undergoing rapid environmental change and that this may lead to greater environmental repercussions around the globe;

Recognizing that an international program of scientific sampling, observations, monitoring, and experimentation is required to address the climate change and exploration issues;

Affirming that oceanic, terrestrial, and atmospheric ecosystem studies should focus on the structure and processes of the environment from the sea floor to the upper atmosphere, and that the relationships and interactions between the global geo-sphere, atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and cryosphere and climate change need to be examined;

Desiring to establish long-term cooperation between the Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences of the Russian Federation, the University of Alaska and the International Arctic Research Center in the United States (herein "Parties") in the field of Arctic region science; and

With the International Arctic Research Center acting as the principal coordinator and point of contact, the Parties have agreed in accordance with the laws and regulations of each country as follows:

The purpose of this memorandum of understanding (MOU) is to foster the joint pursuit of science and technology between the Parties, taking into account the mutual interests and experience of the Parties in the Arctic region. This basic MOU outlines mutual interests of the Parties in joint field, laboratory, modeling and analytical studies and states our intent to cooperate and use resources from the various ministries, agencies, universities, institutes and foundations (state, national, and private) that are accessible to us in our respective areas of responsibility. Annexes to this MOU will detail arrangements for specific projects.

A. Shared responsibilities and shared results obtained in the course of equal cooperation, commensurate with the Parties' strengths and mutual interests in the Arctic region;

B. Access, to the extent permitted by national laws and regulations, to government-sponsored or government-supported programs and institutions for visiting researchers, and, on these same conditions, access to and exchange of information in the field of Arctic region related scientific development;

C. Adequate and effective protection and equal opportunity for rights to intellectual property furnished or created in the course of collaboration;

D. General transparency of policies and programs in order to facilitate mutual understanding and the identification of opportunities for coordination and cooperation; and

E. The widest possible dissemination of research results and related information, subject to applicable international obligations, national laws, and regulations and reasonable protection of intellectual property.

1. The Parties shall encourage and facilitate the establishment and development of direct contacts and cooperation between government agencies, universities, research centers, institutes, private sector firms and other institutions dealing with the Arctic region through the conduct of:

-Access to research areas of mutual interest in accordance with each Party's national rules and regulations and international obligations;

2. Cooperation under this MOU shall be conducted in accordance with each Party's applicable national laws, procedures, regulations and international obligations.

1. To implement this MOU, the Parties shall establish a Joint Coordinating Committee on Cooperation in the Field of Arctic Region studies. As a rule the Joint Coordinating Committee shall meet once a year, alternatively on the territory of the United States of America and the Russian Federation.

2. The Joint Coordinating Committee shall review specific measures and programs of cooperation, coordinate the activities of organizations involved in implementation of these program, and as appropriate make proposals to the Parties on the subject matter of this MOU.

3. The Joint Coordinating Committee will prepare Annexes to this MOU, to be signed by the heads of participating entities and the Parties, detailing specific arrangements for individual projects to be executed under this MOU.

4. Each Party shall designate a co-chair of the Joint Coordinating Committee. In the period between sessions of the Joint Coordinating Committee, the co-chairs will maintain contact between the Parties, coordinate the implementation of the pertinent programs of cooperation, update individual sections of these programs and coordinate the activity of institutes and other organizations participating in cooperation in accordance with this MOU.

1. The Parties affirm their intention to use the information acquired under this MOU in accordance with their respective national laws and regulations.

2. Science and technology information resulting from cooperation under this MOU, other than information that is not disclosed for national security, commercial or industrial reasons, shall be made available, unless otherwise agreed, to the world scientific community through procedures established by the Parties.

1. All activities under this MOU, including exchange of technical information and equipment, exchange of specialists, training scientists and technical experts, and implementation of other forms of cooperation, shall be conducted in accordance with national laws, regulations, international obligations and procedures of the Parties and shall be subject to the availability of personnel, resources, and funds. Each Party or participating organization shall bear the costs of its participation in conducting cooperation under this MOU, unless otherwise agreed in writing. This MOU is not to be construed as obligating any particular expenditures or commitment of resources or personnel.

2. The activities to be carried out under this MOU shall be documented in the form of work plans or other correspondence, and the Parties shall conclude Annexes to this MOU in the form of written agreements or contracts signed prior to the start of each activity.

3. The Parties or participating organizations may, as mutually agreed upon and in accordance with international obligations, national laws, and regulations, invite scientists, technical experts, and entities of third countries or international organizations at their own expense, unless otherwise agreed in writing, to participate in projects and programs being implemented under this MOU.

1. This MOU shall enter into force upon signature by both Parties, shall remain in force for ten years, and shall be renewed automatically, for additional ten-year periods, unless either Party gives notice of termination to the other in writing three months prior to the expiration of the first or any subsequent ten-year period.

3. This MOU may be terminated at anytime by either Party upon no less than six months written notice to the other Party of its intent to terminate.

4. Termination of this MOU shall not affect the implementation of activities undertaken pursuant to this MOU already in progress at the time of termination.

5. This MOU is a reflection of each party's good faith intent to promote the purposes set forth and creates no legal binding obligations on the parties.

DONE at Fairbanks, Alaska, USA, in quadruplicate, on the 7th of May, 2004, in the English and Russian languages, each text being equally authentic.

Joint Initiative Scientific Project between the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (FEBRAS) (Representative from the Russian Federation: V.I. Sergienko) and the International Arctic Research Center of the University Alaska Fairbanks (IARC) (Representative from the United States: S.-I. Akasofu):

The First Russia-US Cruise in the East-Siberian Sea in 2003 was organized by FEBRAS and IARC. Financial support came from FEBRAS, the National Science Foundation (OPP-0342837; OPP-0230455), the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR), and IARC. IARC also contributed modern equipment to conduct pioneering biogeochemical studies in the East-Siberian Sea. A report on the cruise can be viewed at (http://www.iarc.uaf.edu/east_siberian_cruise.html)

Preparations for the Second Russia-US cruise in the East-Siberian Sea and Laptev Sea in 2004 are now underway between FEBRAS and IARC. FEBRAS will contribute the basic funding for charter and travel for Russian participants. IARC will contribute modern equipment and travel support for one or two IARC researchers. Partial support will come from the RFBR. Major post-cruise analytical studies will be done in Vladivostok using FEBRAS facilities and in Fairbanks through support from NSF (OPP-0230455) and IARC.