A group of Russian inspectors arrived at Brigade Nord in Troms county on Thursday for an evaluation visit to Norwegian military facilities, Head of the National Center for Nuclear Risk Reduction Sergey Ryzhkov said to the Russian Ministry of Defense’s web site.
The visit is take place in accordance with the Vienna Document of 2011 on implementation of measures to strengthen confidence and security in Europe, and the aim is to verify information about military forces and plans for deployment of major weapons systems and military equipment, Ryzhkov said.
The Norwegian Chief of Defense’s press service confirms to BarentsObserver that Russian inspectors have come to Norway. Two colonels from Russia’s department for arms control are today visiting military units belonging to Brigade Nord in mid-Troms, among them the garrisons in Heggelia and Skjold. The Chief of Staff of Brigade Nord is their host, and will show them the facilities and give a brief on the status of personnel and equipment.
According to the press spokesman, there are no plans for Norwegian inspectors going to Russia for evaluation visits in 2015, as the quotas for evaluation visits in Russia by OSCE members are exhausted.
According to the Vienna Document OSCE members are allowed to carry out three inspections and two evaluation visits in Russia per calendar year.
