Turkey Refuses Russia's Request to Conduct Observation Flight along Syrian Border
Russia accused Turkey of violating the International Open Sky Treaty. A representative of the Russian Ministry of Defence, Sergei Ryzhkov, stated that Turkish servicemen refused to allow inspectors to conduct an observation flight over regions bordering Syria and the area where the airfields for NATO countries are located.
According to Ryzhkov, the Russian observation mission was denied prior to its members’ arrival in Turkey. Meanwhile, Turkish servicemen deferred to the instructions of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Sergei Ryzhkov accused Turkey of creating a dangerous precedent as a result the violation of the International Open Sky Treaty.
The Treaty allows observation flights over the territory of 30 member countries, including the US, Russia and Turkey. Russian-Turkish relations have been in crisis since a Turkish fighter shot down a Russian frontline bomber near the Turkish-Syrian border in November of last year.