French Foreign Ministry Hopes Russia Will Refrain From Leaving Open Skies Treaty
Jan 16, 2021
Paris (France), January 16: France regrets a Russian decision to leave the Open Skies Treaty and hopes that Moscow will revise its stance on the issue, a spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry said.
On Friday, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the country was beginning procedures to leave the deal, as no progress had been made in removing the obstacles that hinder the treaty's functionality after the Trump administration pulled the US out. When the procedures are completed, Moscow will send a notification to depositories.
The United Kingdom and Germany have already expressed regret over Russian plans to leave the treaty.
In May 2020, US President Donald Trump said that the nation would exit the Open Skies Treaty, alleging without evidence violations by Russia. In response, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko noted that Moscow has never breached the treaty. The Trump administration officially terminated its participation in the treaty on November 22.
Moscow has since repeatedly asked the remaining parties to the agreement to confirm their commitment to abide by all provisions and provide legal guarantees of the confidentiality of data received during observation flights.
Russia has not received the necessary guarantees. According to the Russian presidential spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, the US withdrawal from the agreement has rendered the treaty it nonviable.
Source: Sputnik
