MOSCOW, July 14, /ITAR-TASS/. A joint mission of Turkish and US military inspectors will make an observation flight over the territory of Russia within the frames of the Open Skies Treaty starting on Monday, a high-ranking Russian military official said.
“A joint mission from Turkey and the United States will make an observation flight over the territory of Russia between July 14 and 18 flying Turkish surveillance aircraft CN-235 Persuader,” Sergei Ryzhkov, the head of the Russian National Centre for Reducing Nuclear Threat, said.
He added that the flight would be conducted along an eralier agreed route and Russian specialists on board will accompany the US and Turkish inspectors controlling the use of surveillance equipment and observation of treaty provisions.
The Open Skies Treaty was signed in 1992 and currently boasts 34 member states. The treaty entered into force in 2002. Surveillance flights are conducted over Russia, the United States, Canada and European countries.
The key tasks of the treaty are to develop transparency, monitor the fulfillment of armament control agreements, and expand capabilities to prevent crises within the frames of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and other international organizations.