By Grigor Sysoyev

MOSCOW, September 20 (RIA Novosti)

Almost a billion people could face disaster from rising sea levels caused by melting Arctic ice, President of the Russian Geographical Society and Russian Emergencies Minister Sergey Shoigu warned on Monday.

"More than 800 million people could end up living in a state of emergency if temperatures do not stop increasing," Shoigu said at a press conference ahead of a three-day Arctic forum in Moscow.

"The Arctic: Territory and Dialogue" forum, which will be hosted by the Russian Geographical Society from September 22-23, will bring together more than 400 politicians, scientists, NGO and business representatives from 15 countries to discuss the future of this rapidly changing region.

Talks at the forum, which will be attended by Iceland's President Olafur Grimsson and Prince Albert II of Monaco among others, will focus on the environmental issues in the Arctic, the rights of indigenous peoples in the region and the development of energy resources, Shoigu said.

International security and cooperation in the Arctic will also be a key focus.

"Russia has no plans to deploy troops in the Arctic. We want to strengthen Russia's means of securing maritime security in the region," the Russian Foreign Ministry's Arctic representative Anton Vasilev said at the press conference.

Russia's research vessel Akademik Fyodorov is currently on a 100-day scientific expedition to ascertain the borders of Russia's continental shelf.

RIA Novosti is the official media partner of the forum.

International Arctic Forum to Open in Moscow on Wednesday

MOSCOW, September 20, 2010 (RIA Novosti)

Moscow will host an international Arctic forum on Wednesday and Thursday, during which ecologists, politicians and businessmen will discuss the social, economic and environmental problems of the region.

"The Arctic: Territory of Dialogue" is organized by the Russian Geographical Society (RGS).

According to a statement posted on the RGS's website, the forum "will focus on the challenges of climate change, the effects of human activity, issues concerning natural resources and ways to ensure sustainable development in the Arctic region."

"Climate change and anthropogenic impact have made the Arctic ecosystem highly vulnerable, putting the region's sustainable development under threat," Sergei Shoigu, president of the Russian Geographical Society and Russia's emergencies minister, was quoted as saying on the web site.

Russia, the United States, Canada, Denmark and Norway are seeking to assert jurisdiction over parts of the Arctic, which is believed to contain rich oil and gas deposits. The deposits will become more accessible as rising global temperatures lead to a reduction in sea ice.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Iceland's President Olafur Grimsson, Canada's senior Arctic official and head of the Arctic Council Sheila Riordon, French ambassador to Russia Jean de Gliniasty, and other prominent politicians and experts on Arctic are expected to participate in the forum.

RIA Novosti is an official media partner of the forum.