U.S. And Russia Make Commitment To Space Cooperation

The following is a joint statement by President George W. Bush and Russian
President Vladimir VP Putin on U.S.-Russian cooperation in space.

"The loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia has underscored the historic role of
the United States and Russia as partners in space exploration, who have
persevered despite tragedy and adversity. During this challenging time, our
partnership has deepened and the International Space Station (ISS) program
remains strong. The extraordinary efforts of our countries continue.

"The United States is committed to safely returning the Space Shuttle to
flight, and the Russian Federation is committed to meeting the ISS crew
transport and logistics resupply requirements necessary to maintain our
joint American astronaut and Russian cosmonaut teams on board the ISS until
the Space Shuttle returns to flight.

"We confirm our mutual aspiration to ensure the continued assembly and
viability of the International Space Station as a world-class research
facility, relying on our unprecedented experience of bilateral and
multilateral interaction in space. We reaffirm our commitment to the mission
of human space flight and are prepared to take energetic steps to enhance
our cooperation in the application of space technology and techniques."

The original White House statement can be found on the Internet at:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/06/20030601.html