MOSCOW. April 8 (Interfax-AVN) - The agreement between Russia and Kazakhstan on the Baikonur spaceport has been submitted to the State Duma for ratification, a source in the lower chamber of Russian parliament told Interfax-Military News Agency on Friday.
"The explanatory note to the bill on ratification reads that the agreement will help to continue the effective use of the spaceport in the interests of national space programs, the program of international cooperation and commercial space projects," the source said.
The ratification will allow using the money invested into the technical and launching facilities of the spaceport more effectively, as well as will guarantee the stability of further investments, including from foreign customers, he added.
Moreover, the document reads that it is in the national interests of Russia that the rent agreement is prolonged till 2050.
Yet another priority is the development of the nature-friendly Baiterek space-launching system based on the Russian Angara system.
The cooperation on environmental issues will reduce the psychological tension of the locals, who are greatly concerned with the space activities in Kazakhstan, reads the note. Moreover, the results of this cooperation will be used to ensure operation of spaceport in Russia, which in turn will help to support and develop scientific and production potential of the Russian aerospace industry.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and head of the Federal Space Agency Anatoly Perminov were appointed official representatives of the Russian president for the discussion of ratification issues at sessions of both chambers of the Federal Assembly.
The agreement between Russia and Kazakhstan on the development of cooperation in the sphere of more effective use of the Baikonur spaceport was signed in Astana by the presidents of the two countries on January 9, 2004.