MOSCOW, October 28 (Itar-Tass) — The group of Russian inspectors began an observation mission by an airplane An-30B over France under the international Treaty on Open Skies, the press service of the Russian Defence Ministry reported on Sunday.
The ministry reported that the Russian inspectors will work from October 28 to 31. “The flight will be made from the Orleans-Bricy Airport on the coordinated route. The maximum distance of the flight will reach 2,078 kilometres,” the press service reported.
The press service explained that the airplane will carry Russian and French specialists, who will control the avionics and the observation systems under the current agreements.
“This year this will be a 34th observation flight, which Russia makes over the signatory countries of the Treaty on Open Skies,” the press service added.
The Treaty on Open Skies was signed in 1992. Thirty-four countries are the signatories of the treaty. The observation flights are made over the United States, Canada, European countries and Russia.
The Open Skies regime should primarily develop the transparency, contribute to the observance over the fulfilment of current and future agreements on the control over armaments and broader opportunities to avert crises and settle the critical situations within the framework of the Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe and other relevant international organizations. The Open Skies regime is expected to spread on new spheres, for instance, environmental protection.