Iceland concern over developments regarding the Open Skies Treaty.

The long standing failure of the Russian Federation to fully implement the Open Skies Treaty (OST) is of major concern to Iceland, said H.E. Mr.  Thórdur Aegir Óskarsson, Ambassador for Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, at the Conference of the State Parties to the OST, conveined in Vienna on 6th July to consider the effect of a notified withdrawal from the treaty by the United States of America. Ambassador Óskarsson urged the Russian Federation to fulfill its treaty obligation and return to full compliance at the earliest date possible.  He also regretted that the United States has seen no way out but to notify its withdrawal from the Treaty and called upon the United States to remain and work within the Treaty to find solutions to the outstanding non-compliance issues.

Statement of Ambassador Thórdur Aegir Óskarsson, 6 July 2020.