Nasa associate administrator Jim Free on Thursday welcomed Cyprus to the Artemis Accords, a set of principles and agreements established to govern international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space.
Cyprus had joined the accords on Wednesday, with Free saying the move will “strengthen the country’s commitment to Nasa and to the international community”.
The accords were signed by Research Deputy Minister Nikodemos Damianou, who said the moment “marks an important milestone”, and said the accords’ signatories are “a diverse coalition of nations which are aiming for a new era of space exploration based on the principles of security, peace, and sustainability.”
“As we embark on this exciting journey, we reaffirm our commitment to the importance of international cooperation to ensure the use of the universe for the benefit of all humanity,” he said.
He added that Cyprus has “already made strides focusing largely on the fields of communication, satellites, and earth observation”.
“As we move deeper into the space age, it is imperative that we cultivate knowledge, share collaboration across disciplines and borders,” he said, adding that “space should be at the core of our efforts, diversify our economies, and create value for future generations.”
James O’Brien, the United States’ assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, was visiting the island when Cyprus signed the accords, and said the US and Cyprus will “work together in space as we share a commitment to providing our people with opportunities both educational and scientific”.
The Artemis Accords were spearheaded by the US and were built on existing international space law, including the Outer Space Treaty of 1967.
Cyprus is the 46th party to the accords, with others including the US, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, India, and Greece.
