Russian Deputy Foreign Minister: The United States withdraws from the "Open Sky Treaty" undermines the basic agreement to consolidate European security

　　China News Agency, Moscow, May 21 (Reporter Wang Xiujun) Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grushko said on the 21st that the withdrawal of the United States from the "Open Sky Treaty" means that the basic agreement that consolidated European mutual trust and security has been destroyed for more than 20 years.

　　According to US media, US President Trump said on the 21st that the US will withdraw from the "Open Sky Treaty" on the grounds that Russia violated the treaty.

　　In response, Glushko said that the United States withdrew the treaty for "imagined reasons". The Russian side opposes the US side's attempt to rationalize its withdrawal from the treaty on the grounds of technical problems. He said that usually any treaty in the field of military security is very complicated, but as long as there is a political resolution, any problem can be resolved on the basis of mutual understanding, cooperation and a balance of interests.

　　Grushko said that there are no obstacles to continue discussing technical issues. To continue the discussion, there is no need to withdraw from the treaty. But if you withdraw from the treaty, there will be no solution to the technical problem, and there will be no treaty itself. The treaty has maintained peace and security in Europe for more than 20 years.

　　Grushko said that Russia has not violated the treaty. The Russian side also raised serious opinions on the compliance with the US treaty.

　　Grushko mentioned that the treaty is a multilateral treaty, and NATO member countries have also signed the treaty. The withdrawal of the United States from the treaty will involve the interests of all signatories.

　　The Director of the Non-Proliferation and Arms Control Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Yermakov said earlier that the withdrawal of the United States from the treaty is consistent with the general route of the US authorities to undermine all arms control treaties. He emphasized that the Russian side has a backup plan for the withdrawal of the United States.

　　The Open Sky Treaty was signed in 1992 and entered into force in 2002. According to the treaty, a Contracting State may conduct unarmed reconnaissance on the entire territory of other Contracting States in order to verify the implementation of the international arms control treaty. There are currently 34 parties to the treaty, including Russia and most members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. (Finish)