MOSCOW, April 7 (RIA Novosti) - Russian military inspectors will make surveillance flights over the territories of Romania and Hungary under the international Open Skies Treaty within a period starting Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry has reported.
Russian experts will conduct the inspection flights on board an Antonov An-30B (Clank) aircraft between April 7 and 13, the ministry said in a statement.
The aircraft will take off from Romania’s Bucharest Otopeni Airport and Hungary’s Kecskemet Air Base.
During the flights, Russian and foreign specialists will monitor the operation of surveillance equipment on board the aircraft as set out in the Open Skies Treaty.
The Open Skies Treaty, which entered into force on January 1, 2002, establishes a regime of unarmed aerial observation flights over the territories of its 34 member states to promote openness and the transparency of military forces and activities. Russia ratified the deal in May 2001.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that US inspectors would conduct inspection flights over Russia in the same period, between April 7 and 13, under the treaty.
