Finland, Turkey to run observation flight in Russia

Finland and Turkey will conduct an Open Skies observation flight in Russia from 5 to 9 August 2019.

Turkey will be the lead nation during the inspection, said the Finnish Defence Forces in a press release.

The combined flight is based on a technical agreement between Finland and Turkey which states the parties’ responsibilities, obligations and cost-sharing arrangements. The Finnish team will be led by Major Antti-Ville Rusanen from the Defence Command, Finland.

Open Skies is an agreement that aims to promote transparency and security in Europe.

The agreement allows the signatories to conduct observation flights and take aerial photographs over the territories of its member states when these have been planned and announced beforehand. Finland signed the agreement in February 2003.