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Paris, 11 February 2003
Press Release
NX 09-2003

New Cooperation and Partnership Agreement 
 between ESA and the Russian Federation
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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

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