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Senator Murkowski and Admiral Papp to Attend Arctic Circle 2014 Conference

Arctic Circle 2014

This weekend is the Arctic Circle 2014 conference in Iceland.  The annual event was created to increase the Arctic dialogue.  US Senator Lisa Murkowski will be attending with the new Arctic Representative from the US Admiral Robert Papp.  

Admiral Papp was appointed to the post earlier this year with huge support from Senator Murkowski.  The two will be attending the second ever Arctic Circle conference.  This year’s topics will include sea ice melt, polar law, security in the Arctic, clean energy and fisheries management. 

Murkowski says she is attending this conference with other Arctic leaders from around the globe to discuss the issues that face them as Arctic nations.

“Not only bring in a focus on what is happening as we prepare for the Arctic Council Chairmanship in 2015 but really an opportunity to really engage with Arctic nations on so many of the issues that are so important to us.”

Presidents from Iceland, Finland and Germany will also be in attendance at the meeting. Murkowski says having specifically an Alaskan representing the US at the conference with other leaders from nations that circle the Arctic is a great idea. 

“Alaska is the state that makes us an Arctic nation. So to be there to represent the Alaska perspective as well as to represent the US Senate at the Arctic Circle meeting is a great privilege, a great honor, I’m looking forward to lots good meetings at lots of different levels and being able to report back to Alaska.”

The Arctic Circle 2014 conference will start on Friday and includes speakers from Google, Harvard, National Geographic and National Scientific Arctic Network.