http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/newsroom/view_news_e.asp?id=2213
News Release
Russian Aircraft Takes to Canadian Skies Supporting International Treaty
NR-07.001 - March 6, 2007
OTTAWA – A Russian aircraft carrying 28 Russian military officials will arrive in 8 Wing Trenton today and is scheduled to conduct an aerial observation mission under the Treaty on Open Skies on Thursday, March 8 and Friday March 9, 2007.
The Tupolev 154M aircraft will be accorded unimpeded overflight of Canadian territory in order to observe and verify objects of interest, including military installations, industrial complexes, population centres and transportation facilities.
The Treaty on Open Skies, which came into effect on January 1, 2002, allows for increased confidence and transparency amongst the 34 nations that are party to the Treaty. The Treaty constitutes a key confidence and security building measure.
Since it came into effect, Canada has flown numerous observation flights over the Russian Federation, Belarus, the Republic of Croatia and Ukraine. This Tupolev 154M flight marks the third time another Treaty nation will conduct an observation flight in Canada, the first being September 2004. Canadian military escort personnel will be aboard the Russian aircraft throughout the observation mission to monitor imaging equipment and adherence to the agreed flight route and profile.
Canada is an active participant in the international proliferation security regime and is a signatory to several treaties dedicated to the elimination, reduction or control weapons of mass destruction and conventional arms. The Treaty on Open Skies is but one example of how Canada exercises its commitment to limit and lower the threshold of conflict and increase trust and security by developing greater openness and transparency amongst states.
News Release
Russian Aircraft Takes to Canadian Skies Supporting International Treaty
NR-07.001 - March 6, 2007
OTTAWA – A Russian aircraft carrying 28 Russian military officials will arrive in 8 Wing Trenton today and is scheduled to conduct an aerial observation mission under the Treaty on Open Skies on Thursday, March 8 and Friday March 9, 2007.
The Tupolev 154M aircraft will be accorded unimpeded overflight of Canadian territory in order to observe and verify objects of interest, including military installations, industrial complexes, population centres and transportation facilities.
The Treaty on Open Skies, which came into effect on January 1, 2002, allows for increased confidence and transparency amongst the 34 nations that are party to the Treaty. The Treaty constitutes a key confidence and security building measure.
Since it came into effect, Canada has flown numerous observation flights over the Russian Federation, Belarus, the Republic of Croatia and Ukraine. This Tupolev 154M flight marks the third time another Treaty nation will conduct an observation flight in Canada, the first being September 2004. Canadian military escort personnel will be aboard the Russian aircraft throughout the observation mission to monitor imaging equipment and adherence to the agreed flight route and profile.
Canada is an active participant in the international proliferation security regime and is a signatory to several treaties dedicated to the elimination, reduction or control weapons of mass destruction and conventional arms. The Treaty on Open Skies is but one example of how Canada exercises its commitment to limit and lower the threshold of conflict and increase trust and security by developing greater openness and transparency amongst states.
-30-
For further information :- The Treaty on Open Skies
[ Backgrounder - 6 March 2007 ]
