This Echo is READ ONLY !   NO Un-Authorized Messages Please!
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Glenn Mahone/Bob Jacobs
Headquarters, Washington         June 4, 2003
(Phone: 202/358-1898/1600)

RELEASE: 03-192

U.S. AND RUSSIA MAKE COMMITMENT TO SPACE COOPERATION

     The following is a joint statement by President George 
W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir VP Putin on U.S.-
Russian cooperation in space.

"The loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia has underscored the 
historic role of the United States and Russia as partners in 
space exploration, who have persevered despite tragedy and 
adversity. During this challenging time, our partnership has 
deepened and the International Space Station (ISS) program 
remains strong. The extraordinary efforts of our countries 
continue. 

"The United States is committed to safely returning the Space 
Shuttle to flight, and the Russian Federation is committed to 
meeting the ISS crew transport and logistics resupply 
requirements necessary to maintain our joint American 
astronaut and Russian cosmonaut teams on board the ISS until 
the Space Shuttle returns to flight. 

"We confirm our mutual aspiration to ensure the continued 
assembly and viability of the International Space Station as 
a world-class research facility, relying on our unprecedented 
experience of bilateral and multilateral interaction in 
space. We reaffirm our commitment to the mission of human 
space flight and are prepared to take energetic steps to 
enhance our cooperation in the application of space 
technology and techniques."

The original White House statement can be found on the 
Internet at:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/06/20030601.html

-end-

                            * * *

 - END OF FILE -
==========

@Message posted automagically by IMTHINGS POST 1.30
---