MOSCOW, September 16 (Itar-Tass) - A group of Canadian inspectors will make an observation flight over Russia and Belarus under the Treaty on Open Skies(TOS), Sergei Ryzhkov, head of the national Nuclear Risk Reduction Center, told Itar-Tass.
"Within a period from September 16 to 20, in implementation of the international Treaty on Open Skies, Canadian specialists will make an observation flight aboard a C-130J plane over the territories of Russia and Belarus," he said.
Ryzhkov pointed out that the observaton plane belongs to the class of flying vehicles which are not designed to carry any armament. The onboard technical means have passed an international inspection with the partivipation of Russia's representatives. During the flight along an agreed route, Russian and Belarusian specialists on board the plane will monitor the use of observation instrumentation in accordance with the Treaty provisions.
The Treaty on Open Skies was signed in 1992. Thirty-four countries are Parties to the Treaty. Observation flights are made over Russia, the United States, Canada, and European countries.
The principal purposes of the TOS are to develop transparency, assist in monitoring compliance with arms control agreements, broaden possibilities for averting crises, and regulate crisis situations within the framework of the Organization for Security and Coopeatio in Europe and other international organizations.