SASS ROGANDO SASOT
ONE of the achievements of the end of the Cold War, the Arctic Council is a high-level forum for cooperation of the eight states with sovereignty claims over territories in the Arctic: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States. Created in 1996, the council evolved from the 1992 Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy (AEPS), which the Finnish government advocated. Besides member states, the council recognizes several indigenous groups in the Arctic as permanent participants. Though without voting rights, they can attend meetings, contribute to discussions, and present proposals.