WASHINGTON, April 19,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA and Slovenia affirmed their cooperation in future
space endeavors on Friday as Slovenia became the 39th country to sign the
Artemis Accords. The signing certified Slovenia's commitment to pursue safe and
sustainable exploration of space for the benefit of humanity and
took place during a U.S.-Slovenia
strategic dialogue in Ljubljana,
Slovenia, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Offices.
"NASA welcomes Slovenia to the
Artemis Accords," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "Today, the partnership between
the United States and Slovenia crosses a new frontier. We live in a
golden era of exploring the stars. That era will be written by
nations that explore the cosmos openly, responsibly, and in
peace."
State Secretary Matevž Frangež of the Ministry of the Economy,
Tourism, and Sport signed the Accords on behalf of
Slovenia, with James O'Brien, Assistant Secretary of State for
European and Eurasian Affairs, participating in the signing
event.
"Slovenia joins the principles,
values, and rules on the peaceful use of space as a common good of
humanity," Frangež said.
Rebecca Bresnik, Associate
General Counsel for International and Space Law, served as the
senior NASA official at the ceremony, along with her husband,
Randy Bresnik, who is a NASA
astronaut of Slovenian descent.
"We are delighted to welcome Slovenia to the Artemis Accords family," said
Ambassador Jamie Harpootlian, the
U.S. ambassador to Slovenia "We recognize Slovenia as a rising leader in space. We
look forward to taking our collaborations with Slovenia on science, technology, and
innovation to new frontiers."
In 2020, the United States and
seven other countries established the Artemis Accords to establish
guidelines for the peaceful exploration and use of outer space. The
Accords reinforce and implement key obligations in the
1967 Outer Space Treaty. They also strengthen the commitment
by the United States and signatory
nations to the Registration Convention, the Rescue and Return
Agreement, as well as best practices NASA and its partners support,
including the public release of scientific data.
Learn more about the Artemis Accords at:
https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-accords
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SOURCE NASA