Hungary Now a Full-fledged Member of Intersputnik
nullThe 42nd session of the Board and the 17th meeting of the Operations Committee of the Intersputnik International Organization of Space Communications will be held on May 27-28 in Budapest. As the opening event, the President of Hungary’s National Media and Infocommunications Authority signed an accession agreement under which Hungary has become a full-fledged member of Intersputnik.
The International System and Organisation of Space Communications:
was established in Moscow on 15 November 1971 and currently counts the following 26 countries among its members: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Laos, Mongolia, Nicaragua, North Korea, Poland, Romania, Syria, Russia, Tadjikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Yemen and Vietnam. The organisation’s endeavours are overseen by the Board. Each Intersputnik member country has a representative on the Board, all holding equal voting rights. Its permanent executive and administrative body is the Directorate, helmed by the Director-General who is the legal representative of the organisation, acts on the principles of undivided authority and is accountable to the Board. Intersputnik’s operations are financed from a statutory fund based on member’s contributions that are proportional to the extent to which they use the communications channels provided. The statutory fund is used to meet the organisation’s expenses incurred in scientific research and experimental work, in the design, construction, acquisition or lease of the space segment in the launch and putting into orbit of communications satellites, as well as administrative expenses. Profits derived from the operation of the communications system are shared among member countries in proportion to their contributions.
At the international organisation’s session held in Budapest, Monika Karas, President of the National Media and Infocommunications Authority, signed an accession agreement on behalf of Hungary, securing its full membership in the international organisation of space communications, which currently has 26 member countries. By signing the agreement, President Karas also took over the organisation’s representation in Hungary from the Ministry of National Development. “Today’s event is not only a fine example of the constructive cooperation between Intersputnik and Hungary, but also bolsters the direct professional relationship the organisation shares with our Authority, the results of which will soon be evident”, President Karas pointed out in her speech.
Hungary’s ratification of the Protocol on Amendments to the Intersputnik Agreement, the Operating Agreement and the accession agreement reflects the country’s efforts to renew its international relations, and also gives a fresh boost to Hungarian communications and space industries. The accession makes it possible for Hungarian enterprises to gain a stronger foothold in the space industry, which can translate into new contracts awarded to highly qualified Hungarian professionals.
At the organisation’s current session, delegates of member countries were welcomed by Károly Balázs Solymár, Deputy State Secretary for Infocommunications at the Ministry of National Development, who in his opening speech highlighted that the Hungarian government considers the development of industries with high added value a priority, the space industry included. “The Hungarian Government considers stepping up the country’s participation in Intersputnik and reinforcing its active membership a priority objective. Hungarian space companies offer world-class services, yet they are unable to secure substantial contracts unless international agreements are effectively leveraged. Having recognised this need, the Hungarian Government is dedicated to strengthening the country’s participation in both the European Space Agency (ESA) that provides a framework for European cooperation and in Intersputnik, the organisation serving as the gateway to cooperating with the East”, said Deputy State Secretary Solymár.
At the two-day session, delegates of member countries will also elect the Chairman of the Board, Intersputnik’s highest governing body, for a one-year term. The successor will be elected in Belarus next year.
Member countries will most likely approve the organisation’s 2013 Annual Report and set out future objectives to further enhance and maintain space communications capacities for each other’s mutual benefit.
