WASHINGTON, May 26-RIA Novosti. The United States reaffirmed its commitment to dialogue with Russia to reduce the risks of incidents on the high seas and in the airspace above it, the US Navy said following bilateral consultations.
On Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry held scheduled Russian-American consultations on the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of the USSR and the Government of the United States on the prevention of Incidents on the High Seas and in the air above it of 1972.
It is noted that during the visit of the US delegation to Moscow for consultations, the parties considered the issue of intercepting each other's aircraft in international airspace and the interaction of Russian and American ships in international waters over the past year.
Earlier, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that Russia and the United States discussed the interaction of the crews of ships and aircraft, the implementation of the rules of the agreement on the prevention of incidents at sea and in the air. It is added that the next round of consultations with the United States on the implementation of the agreement on the prevention of incidents on the high seas and in the air is scheduled for 2022.
The Agreement on the prevention of incidents on the High Seas and in the airspace above it, concluded between the USSR and the United States in1972, consolidated the interest of both sides in ensuring the safety of navigation in international waters and flights over them. It provides for annual consultations to verify compliance with the agreements.
The last meeting was held in Washington in 2019. In 2020, consultations were not held due to the coronavirus pandemic.
