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Norwegian inspectors to make observation flight over Russia and Belarus

During the flight along the agreed route Russian and Belarusian specialists will monitor onboard the use of surveillance means in compliance with treaty obligations

MOSCOW, September 23 (Itar-Tass) - A group of Norwegian inspectors will make an observation flight over Russia and Belarus under the Open Skies Treaty on September 23-27, the Russian Defense Ministry’s press service told Itar-Tass on Monday.

“Under the Open Skies Treaty inspectors from Norway will perform an observation flight onboard Romania’s An-30 surveillance plane over territories of Russia and Belarus,” the press service said.

During the flight along the agreed route Russian and Belarusian specialists will monitor onboard the use of surveillance means in compliance with treaty obligations.

The Treaty on Open Skies was signed in 1992 and came into force in 2002. It currently has 34 signatories. Observation flights are carried out over Russia, the United States, Canada and Europe. The main purposes of the open skies regime are to develop transparency, render assistance in monitoring compliance with the existing or future arms control agreements, broaden possibilities for preventing crises and managing crisis situations within the framework of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and other international organizations.