The 2017 ministerial meeting of the Arctic Council will take place in Fairbanks, Adm. Robert Papp, the U.S. State Department's special representative for the Arctic, announced Monday at Arctic Frontiers in Tromsø.
The announcement was relayed by the U.S. Arctic Council on its Facebook page. The U.S. currently chairs the multicountry Arctic Council, and the 2017 ministerial meeting will be the culminating event of that chairmanship.
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, through her official webpage, welcomed the news that Fairbanks will be the host of the 2017 Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting, saying:
“I am thrilled that Admiral Papp has announced Fairbanks as the host city for this prestigious event, where leaders from across the globe will come together to discuss Arctic issues. I have long advocated that Alaska not only host the Arctic Ministerial Meeting, but that it be held as close to the U.S. Arctic region as possible,” said Murkowski. “The University of Alaska Fairbanks is home to some of the most current research and leading experts on a variety of Arctic issues, and I cannot imagine a better place to host this event than the Golden Heart City, in the middle of the state that makes America an Arctic nation. This will be an amazing opportunity for the world’s leaders to see firsthand both the challenges and opportunities facing the Arctic.”
Background: Senator Murkowski has continuously called for an Alaskan community to host the 2017 Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting. Murkowski most recently included report language in the omnibus package directing the Secretary of State to ensure that such meeting is held as close to the United States Arctic region as possible and to consult with Congress on the selection of an appropriate location.