Moscow, August 12 (KCNA) -- Russian President Dmitri Medvedev recently sent a congratulatory message to an international meeting, expressing the willingness to steadily contribute to preserving the arctic nature.

The message said that the Arctic Region is affluent in useful mineral reserves and has the shortest sea route linking Europe and Asia. A stable development of the region based on mutual cooperation and unquestioned respect for international law is of special significance.

Russia will as ever strive to preserve the rare nature of the region and implement international plans in the fields of transport and mining, the message stressed.