Russian inspectors to make surveillance flight above Greece

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian military inspectors will begin on Monday, Feb 4, a surveillance flight above Greece under the international Open Skies Treaty, a spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry said, according to RIA Novosti.

A group of Russian experts will conduct the inspection flight in an Anotonov An-30B aircraft between February 4 and 8, he said. The aircraft will take off from the Nea Anchialos airport to cover a total distance of 1,010 kilometers (628 miles).

During the flight, Russian and Greek specialists will operate surveillance equipment on board of the aircraft as set out in the international Open Skies Treaty.

“This will be Russia’s first observation flight in 2013 over the territories of the treaty’s participants,” the spokesman added.

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 treaty in May 2001.