MOSCOW, December 22 (AVN) - The State Duma lower house of parliament ratified on Friday the Russian-US intergovernmental agreement on technology protection measures in launches of US-licensed spacecraft from the Russian spaceports of Plesetsk, Svobodny and Kapustin Yar.
The agreement was ratified with 298 votes in favour, eight against and one abstention.
The document signed on January 31, 2000, will be valid from five years. The Duma defence committee recommended its ratification in November this year.
The agreement meets Russia's interests and efficiently covers all issues as regards establishment of certain regulations, principles and procedures related to spacecraft, boosters and spacecraft infrastructure security. Under it, spacecraft, related equipment and technical documentation will not be examined at customs control and on the territory of Russia. This is a prerequisite for Russian-US co-operation in the sphere of hi-tech satellites.
The Russian government said in the covering letter that the agreement's implementation sets up the conditions necessary "for Russian enterprises' expansion on the international market of space technologies and services." Besides, the document will contribute to the R&D and investment activities in the Russian space sector, the government stressed.