Russia, Kazakhstan Agree to Share Baikonur CosmodromeRussian President Vladimir Putin and his visiting Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev on Monday reached an agreement on jointly using the space launching center Baikonur in Kazakhstan.During his talks with Nazarbayev, who arrived Sunday evening for a three-day official visit, Putin highly evaluates the development of relations and cooperation between his country and Kazakhstan. After their meeting, the two presidents signed a joint declaration on bilateral ties and a memorandum on cooperation in space field. Putin told the press that the cooperation in space sphere will be long-term and Kazakhstan will more actively take part in Russia's space research plans and the program of preparing personnel for this section. The two nations will make every effort to ensure the security of the space base, he stressed. Nazarbayev said Kazakhstan will attach great importance to protecting the cosmodrome's ecological environment and participate in a three-side space program with Russia and Ukraine. The sides also discussed cooperation in trade-economic, military and security aspects. |
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