HALIFAX, Nova Scotia -- Canada's defense minister says the Canadian government is closely watching Russian plans to drop paratroopers in the Arctic next April. Defense Minister Peter MacKay says any country approaching Canadian airspace will be met by Canadians. MacKay didn't give any specifics Friday on what Canada will do in April, but he says Canada is prepared to protect its borders. A Russian general announced plans this week to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first parachute drop at the North Pole by sending paratroopers to the same site. Russia, the United States, Canada, Denmark and Norway have been trying to assert jurisdiction over parts of the Arctic, which is believed to contain as much as 25 percent of the Earth's undiscovered oil and gas.
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