Today at ESA Headquarters the Minister for Foreign Affairs
of the Russian Federation, Mr Igor Sergeevich Ivanov, and
the Director General of the European Space Agency, Mr
Antonio Rodotà, signed the Agreement between ESA and the
Government of the Russian Federation on Cooperation and
Partnership in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space for
Peaceful Purposes.

This Agreement succeeds the Agreement concluded in 1990
between ESA and the Government of the USSR and reflects
the geopolitical developments that have taken place over
the past decade, setting the scene for enhanced cooperation
and genuine partnership between ESA and Russia.

The Russian Government has designated the Russian Aviation
and Space Agency, Rosaviakosmos, as the organisation
competent for implementation of the Agreement.

ESA and Rosaviakosmos are already engaged in fruitful
cooperation in a variety of fields, such as human
spaceflight, microgravity research, Earth observation,
satellite navigation and space science. The Agreement
signed today will open new opportunities for cooperation
in areas such as launchers, with emphasis on future
launcher technologies and operation of the Russian Soyuz
vehicle from Kourou (French Guiana), and robotic and
human planetary exploration.

“This cooperation is a tangible building block for a
strategic partnership between Europe and Russia” said Mr
Rodotà at the signing ceremony, “we are ready to continue
and reinforce our long-standing cooperation with Russia
for the benefit of both parties”.

For further information, please contact:

ESA Media Relations Service
Tel.: + 33(0)1.53.69.7155
Fax: +33(0)1.53.69.7690

Related news

* Europe and Russia strengthen cooperation in space
http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/ESAALJPZ9NC_index_0.html

Related links

* Rosaviakosmos
http://www.rosaviakosmos.ru/english/eindex.htm

IMAGE CAPTION:

[Image 1:
http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEMMAW1A6BD_index_1.html]

[Image 2:
http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEMMAW1A6BD_index_1.html#subhead1]

On 11 February 2003 at ESA Headquarters, the Minister
for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Mr Igor
Sergeevich Ivanov, and the Director General of the
European Space Agency, Mr Antonio Rodotà, signed the
Agreement between ESA and the Government of the Russian
Federation on Cooperation and Partnership in the
Exploration and Use of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes.
Credits: ESA-P. Sebirot