On 11 January, at Interfax head quarter a press conference took place in which participated the members of the aviation expedition Antarctic-2009 A.N. Chilingarov, Deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Hero of the Soviet Union, Hero of the Russia; V.S. Gruzdev, Deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Hero of Russia and M.V. Slipenchuk, Head of METROPOL Group of Companies.
Antarctic-2009 aviation expedition, headed by A.N. Chilingarov, is to start on 12 January. Its basic aim is the inspection of Russian and foreign research stations, and studying of living and working conditions of polar explorers in Antarctica. Part of the expedition route will be carried out together with of Prince Albert II of Monaco. During the expedition, it is planned to visit the Russian Novolazarevskaya station, and also the Antarctic stations of Norway, Germany, Belgium, India and South Africa. The expedition will end on 24 January.
It will be the 50th anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty in December 2009. Over this time, Russia has been one of the main participants of Antarctic research. It is planned to make recommendations on further financing of Russian research in Antarctica according to the results of the expedition’s work.

From Interfax Agency materials