Lukashenko: we will see joint flights of Russians and Belarusians into space more than once

Russians and Belarusians will make joint space flights more than once – as stated by President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko at today’s meeting of the leaders of Belarus and Russia with Marina Vasilevskaya, a participant of the 21st space expedition to the ISS, and pilot-cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky

The Head of State noted that Belarus and Russia have agreed to continue co-operation in space, and – according to Aleksandr Lukashenko – the Russian leadership promised to support Belarusian partners in the future. “I think we will see joint flights of Russians and Belarusians more than once,” he said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko thanked his Russian counterpart once again for his support in organising that project, “I am very grateful to you for that flight. This is not just a tribute. If you had not given the go-ahead and agreed to help, that flight would not have taken place. Thank you for Marina and thank you that Oleg was the commander of that flight. This is our unity. Many say: well, that was a symbolic event that Belarusians [flew into space]. No, that was not a symbolic action of us. We are working very seriously over joint programmes. We have been jointly engaged into satellite programmes. We have preserved satellite manufacturing plants since Soviet times, and we work together with Russians. Manned flights are the focus of our attention now. I persuaded Vladimir Vladimirovich that we would continue to work together. He supported me yesterday.”

“The optics will be yours,” Vladimir Putin responded.

“No problem. Our optics are no worse than in the West,” the Belarusian leader said.

“True, it is good,” the President of Russia agreed.

“Therefore, it is supported that we will work together, we will fly into space,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.