Kazakh cosmonauts awarded Russian medals

According to Itar-Tass, Russian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Mikhail Bocharnikov presented the awards on behalf of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

"The Russian leadership decided to award a galaxy of outstanding people of our world who personally participated in conquering outer space, with the state decoration "For Merits in Space Exploration", in the year of the 50th anniversary of the first man's flight into space," announced Bocharnikov.

Medvedev's decree says that the Kazakh cosmonauts are awarded with medals "for great contribution to the development of international cooperation in the sphere of manned cosmonautics".

"You successfully blazed the trail to humanity to outer space with your work. You continue now to pay much attention to this sphere, to bring up the young generation with your own example, to explain people the importance of space exploration and to do your best to make this work would an important contribution to the development of close and all-round cooperation between the Kazakhstan Republic and the Russian Federation," Bocharnikov said in his speech.

"It's very pleasant that Russia does not forget those who made their contribution to its defense, economic and scientific spheres," said Aubakirov in turn. He noted that "friendship between Kazakhstan and Russia is cemented not only by the fact that we lease land (Baikonur cosmodrome), but also with love of Kazakh people for that country".

The first Kazakh cosmonaut reckons that "the processes, taking place now - formation of the Customs Union and the talks on creating a Common Economic Space - indicate that peoples, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, are nearing greater rapprochement". "This is quite correct. When there is a great powerful state, everyone in the world respects it," said Aubakirov.

The chairman of the Kazakh national space agency (Kazkosmos) also pointed to the importance of cooperation between the republic and the Russian Federation. "It were impossible to explore space and to continue travel into space from Baikonur without the Russian Federation. We understand this quite clear. Our road should always be a common one, since we do not perceive creation of our own space industry without the Russian Federation," said Musabayev.

The Kazkosmos head emphasized that "Russia has been and will remain for Kazakhstan strategic partner No.1 in cosmonautics".

The medal "For Merits in Space Exploration" was instituted last September and is a state award of the Russian Federation.

It is awarded to citizens for merits in research, exploration and use of outer-space; great contribution in developing space-missile technology and industry, training of personnel, scientific and design activities, implementation of international programmes as well as for other achievements in space activities aimed at all-round social and economic development of the Russian Federation, strengthening of its defense and ensuring of national interests as well as expansion of international cooperation.