The year has got off to a busy start in terms of international relations,
with a number of key cooperative agreements being signed in January and
February, with Brazil, India and Poland.
On 1 February a Framework Cooperation Agreement between ESA and Brazil
was signed at ESA Headquarters in Paris, by the Brazilian Minister of
Science and Technology, Mr. Ronaldo Sardenberg , and ESA’s Director
General Mr. Rodota, in the presence of the President of the Brazilian
Space Agency (AEB), Dr. Mucio Roberto Dias.
This agreement will allow ESA and Brazil to extend their cooperation
in the fields of space science, Earth observation, telecommunications,
experiments in microgravity, space systems and life science. The
cooperation shall also extend to the exchange of experts to participate
in studies; the holding of joint conferences and symposiums; the award
of fellowships to enable nominees of either Party to undertake training
or other scientific or technical activities at the institutions proposed
by the awarding party. A mission of ESA experts to local scientific/
technical installations and industries will take place in the near
future, in order to define areas of cooperation.
On 24 January in Warsaw, in presence of the Polish deputy Prime Minister
Mr Pol, Mr Rodota renewed the ESA-Poland Agreement, together with the
Polish Minister of Science Professor Kleiber. This agreement reinforces
the existing relations between Poland and ESA. Mr Rodota also met
with Mr Truszynski, Principal Negotiator with the European Union.
Mr Truszynski talked to Mr Rodota about the European integration
process as seen from Poland. Mr Rodota in turn introduced the ESA/EC
European Space Strategy, stressing the need to work in close relation
with the applicant countries.
Earlier in January in Bangalore, the ESA-ISRO framework agreement was
renewed, signed by Mr Poncelet, Director of Strategy and External
Relations, ande Mr K. Kasturirangan, Chairman of the Indian Space
Research Organisation. The renewal of this agreement will permit the
two sides to explore possible areas of joint cooperation. Together
they will look into cooperation in the fields of radio navigation,
Earth observation and space science. A meeting will be organised in
the near future for experts from both organisation to discuss the
details.
Related articles
* Portugal becomes ESA’s 15th Member State
http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/GGGMFZ9UGEC_index_0.html
* Greece signs special accord with ESA
http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/GGGC03KPEIC_index_0.html
Related links
* Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais
* Polish Space Research Centre
http://www.cbk.waw.pl/strony/ramy/english/inen.html
* Indian Space Research Organisation
IMAGE CAPTIONS:
[Image 1:
http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/ESAA3JUTYWC_index_1.html]
On 1 February 2002, a Framework Cooperation Agreement between ESA and
Brazil was signed at ESA Headquarters in Paris, by the Brazilian Minister
of Science and Technology, Mr. Ronaldo Sardenberg (left), and ESA’s
Director General Mr. Antonio Rodota.
[Image 2:
http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/ESAA3JUTYWC_index_1.html#subhead1]
ESA Headquarters in Paris.
