14 July 2008

U.S. Statement on Open Skies Treaty 500th Flight Commemoration

Confidence-building regime provides stability to Euro-Atlantic relationship

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
July 14, 2008

MEDIA NOTE

Commemoration of Open Skies Treaty 500th Flight

The Department announces an Open Skies Treaty commemoration ceremony held today in Vienna, Austria, to recognize the conduct of 500 observation flights carried out under the Treaty since it entered into force in January 2002.  Today’s ceremony includes remarks by the U.S. Chief Arms Control Delegate Hugh Neighbour, who is serving as the Chairman of the Open Skies Consultative Commission (OSCC) from April through September.  The Commission is the implementing body for the Treaty.

The Treaty allows its 34 members to carry out unarmed observation flights over each other’s territories.  It is designed to enhance mutual understanding and confidence by giving all participants the possibility to obtain information on military and other activities of concern to them.  Open Skies is a wide-ranging international effort to promote openness and transparency of military forces and their activities.

The successful conduct of these observation flights demonstrates the positive gains of confidence-building among the parties, and provides significant stability in the Euro-Atlantic relationship.  For more information about the Open Skies Treaty, the OSCC, and the observation flights please see:  http://www.osce.org/about/13516.html.

(end text)