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Paris, 4 April 2003
Press Release
Nx 23-2003

The European Space Agency and Hungary to develop closer relations 

On Monday 7 April, in Budapest, H.E. Mr Kálmán Kovács, Hungarian
Minister of Informatics, and Mr Jean-Pol Poncelet, ESA Director of
Strategy and External Relations, on behalf of the Director General,
Mr Antonio Rodotŕ, will sign a "European Cooperating State
Agreement", the first of a series. 

This new legal instrument is intended to replace existing cooperation
agreements between ESA and European states wishing to establish
closer relations with ESA, possibly leading to accession to its
Convention. Under this Agreement Hungary will take part in ESA
programmes in the fields of space science and radio navigation among
others. 

The Hungarian Space Office will be the implementing partner in
Hungary, ESA has appointed a manager with special responsibility for
European Cooperating States, Mr Henk Olthoff, who will work directly
with Mr Elöd Both, Executive Director of the Hungarian Space Office.

For further information, please contact :
Henk Olthoff
ESA
Tel: +31.71.565.43.50

Mr Elöd Both
HSO
Tel : +36.1.3010.969

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