MOSCOW, May 13 (RIA Novosti) - Russian military inspectors will make a surveillance flight over the territory of Bulgaria under the international Open Skies Treaty within a period starting Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry has reported.
Russian experts will conduct the inspection flight on board an Antonov An-30B (Clank) aircraft between May 13 and 17, a ministry spokesman told journalists.
The aircraft will take off from Burgas Airport to cover a total distance of 660 kilometers (410 miles).
During the flight, Bulgarian and Russian specialists will monitor the operation of surveillance equipment on board the aircraft as set out in the Open Skies Treaty.
This will be Russia’s thirteenth observation flight this year under the agreement.
The Open Skies Treaty, which entered into force on January 1, 2002, establishes a regime of unarmed aerial observation flights over the territories of its 34 member states to promote openness and the transparency of military forces and activities. Russia ratified the deal in May 2001.
