Turkey bans Russian observation flight near Syria border

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey has rejected a Russian request for a routine observation flight over its territory under a decade-old pact meant to enhance mutual confidence, a move Moscow said set "a dangerous precedent," Reuters reports.

Under a 1992 treaty allowing signatories to conduct aerial observation on each other's territory to promote transparency in military affairs, Russia had been scheduled to conduct its latest flight over Turkey between February 2 and 5.

But Turkey's foreign ministry said on Thursday, February 4 an agreement could not be reached and the flight did not occur. Russia blamed Turkey, saying Ankara had not set any conditions for the proposed observation flight, but that when Moscow proposed a route which included surveillance of Turkish regions bordering Syria, it was rejected.

"In this way, as a result of the violation of the terms of the treaty and Turkey's unconstructive actions, a dangerous precedent has been set for uncontrolled activities by one of the signatories of the Open Skies treaty," Russian defense ministry official Sergei Ryzhkov said.

The Turkish foreign ministry said observation flights only take place when both sides can agree the mission plan, pointing out that Russia imposed limitations on flights over its territory.