The declared withdrawal of the United States of America from the Treaty on Open Skies enters into force today. We deeply regret that the United States decided to take this step and has now implemented it. Our own position on the Treaty is unchanged: we regard it as an important part of the arms control architecture, which has helped to foster mutual confidence-building and thus also to enhance security in the northern hemisphere from Vladivostok to Vancouver. The German Government will of course continue to implement the Treaty. The procurement of our new Airbus A319 observation aircraft demonstrates our clear commitment.
Furthermore, Germany is advocating a fundamental modernisation of conventional arms control in Europe. We must adapt existing multilateral treaties and create new confidence-building mechanisms if we want to be prepared for the challenges to peace and security in this century. We will continue to work with our partners to resolutely tackle this difficult task.