By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow: Inspectors from Britain will conduct a surveillance flight over Russia under an international treaty, a Russian defence ministry spokesman said.
From Oct 8 to 12, the British mission will conduct the surveillance flight on board Swedish SAAB OS-100 aircraft over Russian territory under the international Treaty on Open Skies, the spokesman said.
A Russian group of inspectors will conduct two surveillance flights on board Russian Tu-154M Lk-1 surveillance aircraft over the US Oct 8-22, he said.
The Open Skies treaty, signed in 1992 on an initiative of then US president George H.W. Bush, established a regime of unarmed aerial observation flights over the territories of its member states to promote openness and transparency of military forces and activities.
The treaty entered into force Jan 1, 2002 and its regime covers the national territories (land, islands, internal and territorial waters) of all 34 treaty signatory states. It is an important element of the European security structure.