Russia, Kazakhstan may discuss Baikonur's future in early 2013
Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 19 / Trend E. Kosolapova/
Russian-Kazakh intergovernmental commission will start the discussion of the Baikonur cosmodrome's future in the first quarter of 2013, RIA Novosti quoted Kazakh Presidents's special envoy to Baikonur Sabit Kozhametov as saying.
"The intergovernmental commission will discuss the issue of Baikonur in the first quarter of 2013. At the same time we will start development of mechanisms for further use of Baikonur city and discussing the issue of joint management of Baikonur complex, Kozhametov said.
Kozhametov said the final decision on the complex will be taken in two- four years.
"The agreement on Baikonur leasing was signed in 1994, and has become obsolete. Any regulations require amendments and improvements. When the lease agreement was extended to 2050, it was fixed in the agreement's article 6 that the two governments would amend it in some time," he said.
Kazakh President's special envoy noted that the parties will develop a new agreement on Baikonur's joint use and management instead of the existing lease agreement.
"Kazakhstan should have an appropriate agreement to start Baikonur financing. We cannot allocate money to the territory leased by someone. Currently, there is no Kazakh programme, except some social work in Baikonur. Meanwhile, we will continue working with Russia," Kozhametov said.
According to Kozhametov, Kazakhstan should create special economic zones where special equipment can be imported without duties to modernize launch sites.
Moreover, according to Kozhametov, absence of the agreement on the joint use and management of Baikonur complex delays joint Russian-Kazakh project Baiterek.
"As for the rent of the city of Baikonur, we consider possibility of its management under Kazakhstan's jurisdiction," he said.
According to Kozhametov, in any case, the city will be provided with a special status, because Kazakhstan will held "Expo-2017", and the exhibition guests will attend Baikonur among other places.
"Kazakh head of state ordered to improve the infrastructure of the city with modern technology. But we will do it in cooperation with Russia," Kozhametov said.
The Baikonur Cosmodrome is the world's first and largest operational space launch facility. It is located in the desert steppe of Kazakhstan. It is leased by the Kazakh government to Russia (currently until 2050) and is managed jointly by the Russian Federal Space Agency and the Russian Space Forces. Under the current Russian space program, Baikonur remains a busy space port, with numerous commercial, military and scientific missions being launched annually.