(VOVworld) – The relationship between Russia and Turkey remains tense, Turkey this week denied Russia an observation flight over its territory within the framework of the Open Skies Treaty.

A Russian Sukhoi Su-34 bomber lands at the Russian Hmeimim military base in Latakia province, in the northwest of Syria, on December 16, 2015 (AFP Photo/Paul Gypteau)

Sergey Ryzhkov, chief of Russian Ministry of Defense’s department for control of implementation of treaties, said the route supposed, among other things, observation of areas adjacent to the Syrian border and airfields where NATO aircraft are concentrated.
But after the arrival of the Russian mission in Turkey and the announcement of the planned route of the observation flight, the Turkish military denied permission, citing an instruction from Turkey’s Foreign Ministry. Ryzkhov said Russia will make an appropriate response to this violation of the Open Skies Treaty.
Alexei Pushkov, head of the Russian State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee, said that if NATO supports Turkey in not allowing Russian observation flights, Russia will reconsider its own commitments under the Open Skies Treaty.

The Open Skies Treaty was signed in 1992 by 34 countries. Surveillance flights are conducted over Russia, the US, Canada and European countries. The principal aims of the treaty are to develop transparency, monitor the fulfillment of armament control agreements, and expand the ability to prevent crises in the framework of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and other international organizations.