As their foreign minister heads to Russia, new poll shows residents of Norway’s North want better cross-border relations

A recently published study shows that three out of four residents of Northern Norway wants the government to do more to improve relations with Russia.

According to Norwegian daily Klassekampen, 76 percent of the respondents to a recent survey conducted in Northern Norway think that the Norwegian government should do more to improve its relationship with Russia.

Only 15 percent argued the government should not do more. The survey also shows that the demand for improvements is stronger the closer one gets to the Russian border. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that that the older the interviewees are, the more likely are they to be friendly inclined towards Russia.

The poll comes on the heels of news that Norwegian Foreign Minister Børge Brende he will be attending a high-level Arctic conference in Arkhangelsk, Russia, in March.

That news was confirmed Wednesday in a press statement from the organizers of  the conference titled ‘Arctic: Territory of Dialogue.’

The conference takes place 29-30 March in Arkhangelsk.

According to the organizers, 1,500 participants from 14 different countries will attend the conference. In addition to Norway, there will be delegates from a.o. Denmark, Canada, China, USA, Finland, Switzerland, Iceland and Japan.

The Russian president Vladimir Putin will also attend the conference.

A long line of business leaders from Russian and international companies will attend the conference, the main theme of which is ‘People and the Arctic.’