MINSK, 28 January (BelTA) - The countries-members of the CIS Interstate Council for Outer Space held a video conference on 28 January, BelTA learned from the press service of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.
"The Council decided on the need to consolidate efforts and work out a joint position of the CIS member states on issues on the agenda of the UN Committee on Space and its subcommittees, with the aim of speaking with one voice in the United Nations," the press service said.
The CIS Interstate Council supported Russia's proposal to develop practical cooperation between the CIS countries in the provision and use of space services and the development of an interstate program for this purpose.
The meeting agreed on the need to develop further a multi-purpose aerospace system for the forecast monitoring of natural and man-made emergencies in the CIS, to promote the integration of the ground infrastructures of the CIS states using GLONASS signals, and to develop the regulatory and technical support of joint CIS projects in space.
Vladimir Gusakov, Chairman of the Presidium of the National Assembly of Belarus, as head of the interstate council in 2020, informed the participants of the meeting about the results of the council's activities over the past year under the chairmanship of Belarus, and also on the accession of the National Assembly to the international charter "Cosmos and Major Catastrophes" as a full member in January 2021.
“Cooperation in peaceful space exploration has always been one of the priority areas of the interstate cooperation in the CIS. This can be confirmed by the adoption of the new regulatory framework in 2018 to govern the joint activities of the CIS member states in outer space and the establishment of the Interstate Council for Outer Space in January 2020. Belarus had the honor to preside in the council during the first year of its activity, and we can say with confidence that the decision to set up the council was the right, timely and relevant one,” Vladimir Gusakov said.
In his opinion, cooperation under the aegis of the council will help implement joint programs and projects, promote mutual exchange of scientific and technical information, R&D results in various areas of space science, engineering and technology, and have a positive impact on personnel training, exchange of specialists and scientists.
Kazakhstan took over the presidency in the Council for 2021. The next meeting is scheduled to take place in Russia in H1 2022.
The event was attended by heads and representatives of the space authorities of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, and also the CIS Executive Committee. Representatives of Armenia and Azerbaijan participated as observers.
