Russia has no plans to leave the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan, according to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin.
“I see it as a goal of our joint work to preserve and expand the Baikonur space center’s potential, to provide people living in the city of Baikonur, regardless of their ethnic identity or citizenship, with comfortable conditions for work and living,” he said. “Baikonur must go on. It has big future. It is a big joint project of our two countries. Regardless of the fact that Russia is building and has practically completed the construction of the Vostochny spaceport in the Amur region, Baikonur will still be very important for us.”
Rogozin called on people not to yield to all sorts of speculation that Russia is leaving Baikonur.
“Russia is not leaving Baikonur. It is a common project, which has been confirmed by our presidents. We discussed it and confirmed it once again,” he said.
He added that the concept of long-term development of the Baikonur Cosmodrome is to be ready before the year-end.
Drafting the long-term concept for promoting and coordinating cooperation at Baikonur are Russian and Kazakhstani agencies concerned with the upkeep and efficient utilization of the compound, Rogozin said.
Source: akipress
