National Defence committee  Let me say a very simple thing: whatever Russia is doing or will do in the Arctic, it will be in strict adherence to international law--full stop. Nothing will be done, or might be done, but for that. The positions of our two countries are pretty much the same. We are in the same boat.

National Defence committee  Okay. That's quite a lot, I should admit.

National Defence committee  Actually, it's not obligatory that it go to NORAD. When I say the States, I mean Washington. As far as NORAD is concerned, those confidence- and security-building measures that we—by “we” I mean the international community first and foremost, the States and then the Soviet Union—started elaborating in the early 1970s eventually included some non-obligatory steps, which are still being undertaken on both sides, that might include NORAD as well.

National Defence committee  No.

National Defence committee  Yes, no doubt. With regard to the Arctic, I have several general remarks. Point number one is that nowadays we do have regular consultations between our two countries. This year there has already been one round of consultations over in Moscow. The second round will be sometime in spring, closer to summer, here in Ottawa, between two departments of foreign affairs.

National Defence committee  I'm sorry. Sure.

National Defence committee  Okay. As for whether it was a coincidence, naturally it was nothing but a coincidence. It was not a strong coincidence, but it was nothing but a coincidence, because it's a budget issue for the military on either side. It's a preplanned thing for a year or half a year before that.

National Defence committee  Thank you. Point number one is that the Russian side hasn't stated that Canada specifically was given the notification. It has been stated several times that the countries adjacent to the flight path were notified. My reading of this statement--because I know how it works--is very simple.

National Defence committee  It's a pretty technical question, and to start with, it's definitely not my cup of tea. To be pretty clear, I've never flown any military plane, not a single time in my life. I understand they should have something like what you're talking about, definitely. If I understand you correctly, you're implying that the planes of whatever country might fly in the extreme vicinity, up to centimetres of the restricted zone of national airspace.

National Defence committee  Well, once again, I've specifically mentioned the so-called principle of reciprocity, which is one of the basic principles in international relations. If we're talking about flights in international airspace that are very close to the national airspace, then naturally we should put at the bargaining table all the active participants of those international military flights, participants from all the countries that are engaged.

National Defence committee  The only effective and efficient thing we have nowadays is the START I agreement, which expires on December 5 of this year. That was the only international bilateral agreement that stipulates such notifications. So step number one, let Russia and the States...and hopefully after all this, the reset button will be pushed.

National Defence committee  It is naturally yes. It will just need normal diplomatic channels to be used and normal procedures to be switched on, nothing but that, but it will take some time.

National Defence committee  Thank you. To start with, let me clarify several legal issues along with the issue of notifications and your direct question, with your permission. Very briefly, first, from the point of international law, the only issue was the correlations in the definitions of international air space and national air space.

National Defence committee  Thank you. Senators, members of Parliament, ladies and gentlemen, it's my great honour and pleasure to be a guest speaker of one of the pivotal committees of the upper chamber of the Canadian Parliament. Actually, I might have started with the traditional British small talk about the weather: sunny--it used to be--but a bit chilly, and hopefully it has nothing to do with the subject we're discussing today.