(1) On The Priority Of Russian Federation Space Policy (27 April, 1993) For over 30 years space science in our country has served the interests of the state. Without it, communications and television broadcasting, navigation and meteorology, surveying and cartography, and many other sectors of the national economy would be inconceivable. Space technologies are something no progressive power can do without. It is hard to overestimate the importance of space systems in maintaining the country's defense capability. Realizing its responsibility for preserving Russia's space potential and the extensive application of this potential in resolving the pressing problems of citizens and society as a whole, the Russian Federation Supreme Soviet considers it necessary to state the priorities of space policy which are to be enshrined in Russian Federation legislation and consistently implemented in the day-to-day practice of the state administration of space activity. 1. Space activity in the Russian Federation is to be implemented with a view to ensuring the prosperity of citizens, the development of the Russian Federation, the strengthening of its security, and also resolving the global problems of humanity. Russian space science should ensure: — the equal right of Russian Federation enterprises, organizations, and citizens to participate in space activity and enjoy its results; — access to information about space activity; — restriction of monopolies and the development of entrepreneurial activity; — independent expert analysis of space projects and programs; — safety in space activity, including the protection of the environment. 2. Russia's federal space program is being organized in line with the requirements and economic resources of society and the state. National economic space projects should be designed to tackle tasks with the greatest socioeconomic impact, primarily in the development of networks for receiving, processing, and transmitting information, communications, television broadcasting, environmental monitoring, and studying natural resources. Work of an exploratory nature enabling fundamentally new tasks to be set and tackled, and also applied work commissioned by specific consumers, should be given priority in scientific space research. Space activity for military purposes should be concentrated primarily on the use of space systems for military command and control, communications, intelligence, and other types of backup for the Armed Forces. 3. Structural transformations in space science are to be implemented taking into account the specific features of space science and industry and include the flotation and privatization of profitable production facilities. At the same time unique testing [stendovyy] equipment, and also space infrastructure installations with state significance, should remain within state ownership and be made available for use by interested enterprises and organizations. During the economic reforms it is extremely important not to forfeit the intellectual property of enterprises, organizations, and citizens by taking part in space hardware and space technology developments. The specific features of space activity—the intermingling of science and production, the protracted investment cycle and high degree of commercial risk, the difficulty of obtaining a direct return on invested capital, and the close link between domestic and foreign capital—require special economic approaches. Taking world experience into account, it is necessary to formulate a special system for granting loans to, levying taxes on, and offering state guarantees to enterprises and organizations working on space projects. Strengthening Russia's positions in the world space market presupposes attracting foreign investment backed up by appropriate state guarantees, and also guarantees employing funds from the Russian enterprises and organizations concerned. 4. The Russian Federation Supreme Soviet favors cooperation in opening up space with CIS member countries and the preservation and development of established scientific and production ties. Further steps must be taken to implement the Minsk Agreement on Joint Action To Study and Exploit Space, primarily as regards mechanisms for adopting mutually advantageous interstate space projects and their shared financing by the states, enterprises, and organizations concerned. 5. In issues of international relations connected with space activity, state policy is designed to support domestic enterprises and organizations, deepen international cooperation and integration in opening up space on a mutually advantageous basis, and ensure the fulfillment of Russia's obligations under international agreements.