Canada Takes Part in the 500th Open Skies Treaty Flight

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, Aug 27 (MARKET WIRE) --
Canadian Forces personnel participated in a historic flight with Belgium,
the Netherlands and Luxembourg over Bosnia-Herzegovina on 20 August 2008
aboard a Belgian aircraft, which undertook the 500th observation mission
conducted under the Open Skies Treaty, which promotes openness and
transparency among its signatories.

"The participative role that we are fulfilling during this particular
mission and others like it, not only allows us to actively contribute to
the mission, but also re-enforces Canada's support for the Open Skies
Treaty as a multi-lateral, cooperative endeavor" said Major John Nowak,
mission team leader.

The treaty formally entered-into-force January 2002 and is designed to
enhance trust, confidence and collective understanding by providing all
participating states with the means through which to obtain information
on military or other activities of interest or concern to them. Open
Skies is one of the most wide-ranging international treaty mechanisms
established to date designed to foster openness and transparency of
military forces and their activities.

Canada is an active participant in the international proliferation
security regime and is a signatory to several treaties dedicated to the
elimination, reduction and control of weapons of mass destruction and
conventional arms. The Open Skies Treaty illustrates Canada's commitment
to developing greater openness and trust amongst states and lowering the
potential for conflict.

For more information about the Open Skies Treaty, the OSCC, and the
observation flights, please see: http://www.osce.org/about/13516.html

Contacts:
Information: 613-996-2353
After hours: 613-792-2973
www.forces.gc.ca

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