Finnish, Russian, Estonian air force experts to limit airspace violations

Russian, Finnish, Estonian military officials agreed on measures to limit regional airspace violations at a meeting in Helsinki.

Photo: Finnish, Russian, Estonian air force experts to limit airspace violations

Air force experts discussed ways to improve the exchange of information on flight plans and technical details.

A Foreign Ministry official said the parties agreed to another round of talks early next year.

In September, Russia acknowledged that one of its military transporters flew about 4Ѕ kilometers, or three miles, into Finnish airspace along the southern coast for three minutes, prompting the neutral Nordic country to demand an explanation.

Russia said the incursion was unintentional and proposed a meeting of experts to help prevent such incidents.

Last year, Moscow apologized for airspace violations after a dozen such incidents over a period of two years prompted a protest from Finland.

Similar complaints of air violations have been made by Finland's southern neighbors, Estonia and the other Baltic states. In October 2005, a Russian fighter jet crashed in Lithuania.