Open Skies Treaty vital instrument for co-operation, U.S. Secretary of State Clinton tells review conference

VIENNA, 7 June 2010 - The Open Skies Treaty, which was negotiated under OSCE auspices, is a valuable tool for promoting transparency among military forces, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a video address to a treaty review conference that started today in Vienna.

The treaty, in force since January 2002, allows its 34 State Parties to carry out unarmed observation flights over each other's territories. It aims to boost mutual understanding and confidence by promoting openness and transparency. State parties include most European states, the Russian Federation and the United States. The treaty depositaries are Canada and Hungary. More than 670 flights have been carried out under the treaty.

"We must build on this successful treaty to chart a new course and prepare to design the next generation of the treaty, remindful that budget constraints affect all of us," Clinton said in the video address.

"We want to work with you to find cost effective solutions to ensure that all parties can transition to digital sensors. As Chair of this Conference, the United States remains firmly committed to this Treaty's continued success. We look forward to working with each of you to ensure that this vital instrument for openness and co-operation remains effective for years to come."

The United States is chairing the review conference, the second of its kind. The Treaty calls for a review conference to be held every five years. The first review conference was held in 2005.

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Celeste Wallander, chairing the three-day conference's opening session, said all Open Skies state parties were examining "how we can effectively support European security in an evolving political, economic and military environment".

"European security is not a zero-sum game," she said. "We all benefit from increased co-operation and transparency and this Treaty is one of the key instruments by which we can move Euro-Atlantic security in a positive direction."
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