Moscow is concerned over frequent flights by
NATO warplanes near the Russian borders.
MOSCOW, March 23. /TASS/. Russia is concerned over increasingly
frequent flights by NATO warplanes near the Russian borders with their
transponders off, which provokes possible dangerous incidents, Russian Foreign
Ministry Deputy Spokesman Artyom Kozhin said on Friday.
"What continues to cause concern is the increasing intensity of flights by the military aviation of NATO member states, and also Sweden and Finland near our borders in the area of the Baltic Sea," the deputy spokesman pointed out.
"What continues to cause concern is the increasing intensity of flights by the military aviation of NATO member states, and also Sweden and Finland near our borders in the area of the Baltic Sea," the deputy spokesman pointed out.
"Moreover,
two-thirds of the aircraft of NATO countries, Finland and Sweden performed
flights in September-November 2017 with their transponders off. These actions
provoke the possibility of dangerous incidents with far-reaching
consequences," the deputy spokesman said.
As the
diplomat stressed, Russia on its part has done much to reduce tension in the region.
"Within
the framework of the working group of experts for military and civil
cooperation that operated under the ICAO aegis, an off-the-airway route was
agreed in 2017 for Russian military aviation from St. Petersburg to Kaliningrad
and back," he pointed out.
‘In
compliance with measures taken by the Defense Ministry of Russia on a voluntary
basis for ensuring air safety, the flights are performed with turned-on
transponders pursuant to flight plans provided in advance," the deputy
spokesman said.
"Unfortunately,
we do not see reciprocal steps from NATO member states," Kozhin said.
‘Despite
the promises given earlier, we do not see the alliance’s desire to switch to an
expert discussion of this issue within the Russia-NATO Council format,"
the Russian Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman said.
Source: ITAR-TASS 23-03-2018
