Russia is ready to allow of the observation mission under the Treaty on open skies in the 10-kilometer zone along the borders in the Caucasus if Georgia would allow Russian flights over its territory, said the Russian foreign Ministry.
Earlier, Russian foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow rejects the claim of the United States under the Treaty on open skies, associated with the ban on flights in the 10-kilometer areas along the borders with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Russia’s position on this issue is fully consistent with international law.
The US withdrawal from Open skies, Russia poses a difficult choice
As noted in the foreign Ministry, the entire territory of Georgia unavailable to the Russian missions, "open skies", and multinational missions with Russian participation.
"thus, Georgia is violating key provisions DON that the contract is intended for the conduct of observation flights by States parties over the territories of other States parties and that each state party is obliged to accept observation flights over its territory", – said in a statement.
With the aim of keeping the contract and removal of the situation of impasse in April 2018 Russia lifted restrictions on flights in the 10-kilometer areas along the Russian border in the Caucasus at the same time reserved the right to revert to this issue in the future, said in a statement. "
Warned that giving the permanent nature of our permission to conduct observation flights in these zones is only possible if the faithful implementation by Georgia of its obligations for receiving Russian missions", – said the Minister.
"unfortunately, to date the destructive position of Tbilisi has not changed. As a result, Russia was forced to deny sightseeing flight in a 10-kilometre zones in the course of the joint mission of Sweden, Germany, USA over our territory in April 2019", – stressed in the foreign Ministry.
"Russia ready to let in these areas of the observation mission provided counter Georgia’s readiness to abandon the current is incompatible with key provisions of the DON position and ensure reception of Russian flights over its territory", – stated in the message of the Ministry.
The President of the United States Donald trump announced earlier that Washington is out of Contract and would be outside of the agreement, while Russia "will not perform its obligations". However, he did not rule out the development of new agreements. Russia has repeatedly denied accusations by the U.S. in breach of Contract. The Russian foreign Ministry said that Moscow will negotiate with the United States, including under this agreement only on a reciprocal basis, and any ultimatums from Washington are unacceptable.
The Treaty on open skies was signed in 1992 and became one of the measures for strengthening confidence in Europe after the cold war. It has been operating since 2002 and allows the participating countries to openly gather information about military forces and activities of each other. Parties to the Treaty are 34 States.
