Government to adopt new procedure for announcing air space violations

Government Information Unit

Press release 173/2005
1 June 2005




Airspace violations by Russia

On Wednesday, 1 June, the President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed the statement Russia had provided as an answer to Finland's note on the violations of its territory.

Russia submitted an oral statement to Finland's note, dated on 29 April, regarding violations of Finnish air space. Russia denies any violations of the Finnish territory.

The statement is at variance with the information obtained by Finnish border control authorities. Russia has not provided justifications for its statement. Finland has submitted detailed information to the Russian authorities on established territorial violations. Finland calls for an end to the violations of air space and Russia to operate in compliance with international practices.

Finland considers it positive that Russia has informed of decisions made to improve its practices concerning the accuracy of flight paths.

The President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy also decided that the Ministry for Foreign Affairs would prepare a procedure for announcing established air space violations.

Further information: Markus Lyra, Under-Secretary of State , Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5030