NATO Sec-Gen: Russia’s restricting flights near Georgia border inconsistent with Open Skies Treaty
Stating that Russia’s return to compliance 'is the best way to preserve the benefits of the Treaty’, Jens Stoltenberg noted that NATO allies ‘continue to aspire to a constructive relationship with Russia, when Russia’s actions make that possible’. Photo: nato.int
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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that all states party to the Open Skies Treaty ‘must fully implement their commitments and obligations’, while Russia has imposed flight restrictions ‘inconsistent with the Treaty’.
Russia has for many years imposed flight restrictions inconsistent with the Treaty, including flight limitations over Kaliningrad, and restricting flights in Russia near its border with Georgia”, Stoltenberg stated.
NATO allies met yesterday to discuss the 35-nation Open Skies Treaty, which allows for unarmed surveillance flights over member states, calling on Russia to return to its full compliance.
Russia’s ongoing selective implementation of its obligations under the Open Skies Treaty has undermined the contribution of this important Treaty to security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic region”, Stoltenberg added.
Stating that Russia’s return to compliance 'is the best way to preserve the benefits of the Treaty’, Jens Stoltenberg noted that NATO allies ‘continue to aspire to a constructive relationship with Russia, when Russia’s actions make that possible’.
Jens Stoltenberg's video address is also available on Twitter:
#NATO Allies met today to discuss the Open Skies Treaty. We are firmly committed to the preservation of effective international arms control, disarmament & non-proliferation. Read my statement: https://t.co/OgDoBnbGta pic.twitter.com/VGqcst1h5T
— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) May 22, 2020
Stoltenberg also added that the allies ‘will continue to uphold, support, and further strengthen arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation, as a key element of Euro-Atlantic security, taking into account the prevailing security environment’.
Recently, the United Stated announced plans to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty, saying that Russia has refused to adhere to the treaty which entered into force back in 2002. However, Stoltenberg announced yesterday, the US may 'reconsider its withdrawal' if Russia returns to full compliance with the Treaty.
State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality of Georgia Ketevan Tsikhelashvili has urged the residents of the Russia-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions to follow recommendations of the World Health Organization, saying that the Georgian government is ready help them prevent the spread of COVID-19 if the need arises.
The Estonian intelligence report of 2020 reads that this year ‘Russia’s focus will certainly be on the US presidential and Georgian parliamentary elections.’ The report says that the main goal of Russia is to ensure a more beneficial election result by favouring Russian-friendly candidates or those who have the most divisive influence in the West. “Moreover, Russia wants to show that the west is failing to hold fair elections."
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has offered the Normandy format of dialogue with Russia, the format Ukraine has with the country.
Due to strong international support for Georgia, Russia has agreed not to participate in unarmed surveillance flights over Georgia in 2019.
Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) have been removed as separate country listings on Chinese video-sharing social network Tik Tok. The Georgian Foreign Ministry announced yesterday that they had active cooperation with the Chinese officials in Tbilisi and Beijing to have Abkhazia and Tskhinvali removed from the social network.
Georgia has accused Russia of systematically violating the conditions of the Open Skies Treaty and politicising the agreement for several years. Signed in 1992, the Open Skies Treaty permits each state-party to conduct short-notice, unarmed, reconnaissance flights over the others’ entire territories to collect data on military forces and activities.
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has thanked Georgia for helping three Russian seamen in Nigeria return home on a repatriation flight, as well as for assistance in the repatriation of Russian nationals from Georgia.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will meet Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia at NATO headquarters in Brussels on September 29, the NATO press office has reported.
Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia met NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg earlier today at NATO headquarters in Brussels, where Black Sea security, air traffic radar data sharing, upcoming elections in Georgia and the challenges and progress of the country on the path to NATO membership were discussed.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will meet with Georgian President Salome Zurabishvil in Brussels on January 22, the NATO press office has reported. Previously Stoltenberg and Zurabishvili met in January 2019. Stoltenberg met with Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia also at NATO headquarters back in September 2020.