Open Skies Treaty

Observing all the provisions of the treaty largely contributes to the
strengthening of trust, security, and stability in the area of the
Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and reflects
the State Parties’ efforts to cooperate in order to promote openness and
transparency increasing trust. The Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of
Defence give priority to the implementation of arms control agreements,
in which Hungary as a depository state pays particular attention to the
Treaty on Open Skies.

The Treaty on Open Skies, which allows for unarmed observation
flights over the entire territory of its participants from Vancouver to
Vladivostok, was signed by 25 states on 24 March 1992 in Helsinki. The
current number of State Parties amounts to 34.

The first observation test flight was conducted by Canada over
Hungary on 4-7 January 1990 in the preparatory stage of the treaty. The
legally binding treaty which promotes trust and security entered into
force on 1 January 2002; the State Parties have conducted 846
observation flights over one another’s territory. Hungary is bound to
receive four such flights a year and may conduct the same number of
flights over other participants’ territory.

On the 20th anniversary of the signing of the treaty and the 10th
anniversary of its entering into force, Canada and Hungary jointly
organised a reception in the Hungarian Embassy in Vienna. The guest of
honour of the ceremony was Rose Gottemoeller, US Under Secretary of
State, who pointed out in her speech the results that the treaty
achieved in strengthening peace, security, and stability in Europe due
to its unprecedented transparency. The ceremony was attended by OSCE
ambassadors and military representatives of the State Parties and
observer states as well as the former Hungarian ambassador assisting the
first negotiations.

(MoD Press Office)