OSLO (AFP) - Norway and Russia could establish a visa-free travel zone around the countries' short land border in the Arctic, a spokesman for Norway's foreign ministry said Saturday.

• Russia and Norway argue over oil resources

The idea of opening up the land border between Norway and Russia has been discussed by officials in the two countries "for some time," Bjoern S. Jahnsen told AFP, adding the issue would be discussed on Monday during Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to the Scandinavian country.

On Friday, Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere told public broadcaster NRK "the vision should be that the border between Norway and Russia becomes like the borders we have with our Nordic neighbours."

"In time the border between Norway and Russia should be open for everyone," he added.

NRK reported the visa-free travel scheme would allow about 40,000 Russians and 9,000 Norwegians who live near the border to travel without a visa to the other country.

The network said the visa-free zone would go from the Norwegian town of Kirkenes and encompass the Russian towns of Nikel and Pechenga.

Russia and Norway have had a long-running dispute over control over the continental shelf in the Barents Sea, an area believed to contain rich energy reserves.

Ahead of his visit to Norway on Monday and Tuesday, Medvedev told Norwegian daily Aftenposten it was "absolutely possible" for the two countries to delineate their maritime borders in the Barents Sea.

"The most important thing is to find a solution which suits both sides, and not through the path of the sides giving up their positions, but through the path of finding a reasonable compromise," Medvedev said.

Medvedev will visit Denmark following his trip to Norway.