PARIS, May 22 -- Ten European nations on Friday issued a joint statement regretting the United States' withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty, which they consider "a crucial element of the confidence-building framework that has been created over the past decades to increase transparency and security across the Euro-Atlantic area."
"We regret the announcement by the government of the United States of its intention to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty, although we share its concerns regarding the implementation of treaty provisions by Russia," said the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Czech Republic and Sweden in the statement.
"We will continue to implement the Open Skies Treaty which has obvious added value for our conventional arms control architecture and our common security," said the statement.
"We reaffirm that this treaty remains functional and useful. The withdrawal becomes effective after a period of six months," it added.
"On matters relating to the implementation of the treaty, we will continue dialogues with Russia as previously agreed between NATO allies and other European partners in order to resolve outstanding issues such as undue restrictions imposed on flights over Kaliningrad," it said.
German Minister of Defense Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer told the German broadcaster n-tv on Friday that her country will make an effort to salvage the international Open Skies treaty.
"I deeply regret the U.S. announcement on the abandonment of the treaty," said Kramp-Karrenbauer, adding that in close coordination with Germany's Foreign Office, "we will do everything we can to ensure that at the end of the day everyone will be able to stick with this contract."
The U.S. administration revealed on Thursday its intention to withdraw from the Treaty on Open Skies, which allows its states-parties to conduct short-notice, unarmed reconnaissance flights over the others' entire territories to collect data on military forces and activities.
The Treaty on Open Skies, which aims at building confidence and familiarity among states-parties through their participation in the overflights, was concluded in 1992 and entered into force in 2002.
Currently, 35 nations, including Russia, the United States, and some other members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, have signed it. Kyrgyzstan has signed but not ratified it yet.
从航拍角度看这些知名城市
科学家发现:长痘痘的人老得慢
克里:在叙问题上美欧无战争意愿
2017考研:英语高频短语(32)
A Farewell Party
国际英语资讯:Suspected U.S.-led air strike kills 15 civilians in Syrias al-Raqqa
国际英语资讯:Yemens Houthi rebels deny loss of border crossing
My family
联合国人权事务高级专员:川普将是“危险的”总统
国内英语资讯:Spotlight: G20 Hangzhou summit offers impetus to BRICS greater role in global economic gov
国际英语资讯:Paramilitary trooper killed, 8 wounded in Indian-controlled Kashmir militant attack
国际英语资讯:Gene editing offers hope for curing sickle cell anemia
国际英语资讯:Vitamin treatment unlocks door to stem cell therapies: New Zealand scientist
点头就能购物:阿里巴巴推虚拟现实支付系统
Brazil prison clashes 'kill 25 inmates'
国内英语资讯:China Focus: The sky-high dreams of Shenzhou-11 astronaut Chen Dong
美国袭击也门目标报复导弹袭击
国内英语资讯: China Focus: Jing Haipeng, first Chinese astronaut to enter space three times
少儿版《白娘子》走红 小戏骨神演技获赞
联合国秘书长潘基文2016年世界精神卫生日致辞
国际英语资讯:Modi lauds BRICS achievements, calling 8th summit success
为什么菲律宾总统杜特尔特不信任美国
国际英语资讯:Crown Prince asks for appropriate time to be enthroned: Thai PM
Tom’s Holiday
消失多年的小费在中国少数时髦餐馆回归
国内英语资讯:Chinese president calls on BRICS countries to cement confidence, act against challenges
国际英语资讯:Hollande, Merkel, Putin discuss how to implement Minsk peace deal
A Post Card from John
真正的“外婆家”:餐厅聘用来自世界各地的奶奶们做厨师
2017考研:英语高频短语(33)