"We're always going to meet any challenge to that territorial sovereignty," Mr. MacKay added, "and I can assure you any country that is approaching Canadian airspace, approaching Canadian territory, will be met by Canadians." National Post
Russian officials are surprised by Canadian reactions to a Russian mission to the North Pole. Canwest News Service Russian officials are surprised by Canadian reactions to a Russian mission to the North Pole.
Russia is expressing confusion over critical comments made by Defence Minister Peter MacKay about a planned Russian paratrooper jump at the North Pole next spring, insisting that the mission should pose no problem since the top-of-the-world drop site is beyond the jurisdiction of any country.
The proposed parachute operation - described last week by a Russian general as a "peaceful" anniversary celebration of a landmark achievement by two Soviet scientists 60 years ago - prompted an icy response from Mr. MacKay, who suggested Canada would scramble fighter jets to "meet" any Russian aircraft "approaching" Canada's airspace.
"We're going to protect our sovereign territory," Mr. MacKay said Friday in Halifax, a day after a Russian embassy spokesman had downplayed the scheduled parachute mission as a "solely symbolic" event unrelated to disputed seabed boundaries in the Arctic Ocean.
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