Climate Changes and the legacy from the International Polar Year are some of the topics on the Arctic Councils SAO Meeting, which opened today in Svolvær on the Lofoten Islands in the northern part of Norway.

The Mayor of Svolvær addressed the meeting in the opening ceremony and told about the areas proud traditions on the cod fishery which is world famous.

The opening ceremony was accompanied by the festive tones of Grieg's In the Hall of the Mountain King. The music  was chosen because the meeting takes place in Svolværs Våganhallen which is a sporting arena blasted into a small mountain in the city centre. The meeting has almost 150 participants from all over the world.

The Arctic Council holds SAO Meetings every half year. The last meeting was in Narvik. The location for the next meeting is not decided yet, but the SAO Chair, Mr. Karsten Klepsvik told the assembly that Kautokeino in the Finnmark area of Norway is a good possibility.

More information www.arctic-council.org