Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu had a meeting on Thursday with NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, with talks focusing on the Romania – U.S. Strategic Partnership, as well as on the long-term outer space & atmospheric cooperation with the U.S.

„Romania advocates the peaceful use of extra-atmospheric space and the development of responsible behavior regulations for the space,” the head of the Romanian Executive said as cited in a government release, referencing also Romania’s signing on March 1, 2022 of the Artemis Accords – the principles of cooperation for the civil exploration and peaceful use of the Moon, Mars, comets and asteroids in the context of the Artemis space exploration program led by NASA.

Prime minister Ciolacu affirmed the need for increased cooperation in the field of outer space security, in the current international context marked by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, adding that Romania advocates the peaceful use of outer space, as well as rules for the states’ responsible conduct in this realm of essential importance in the current international environment.

„I believe that space as a human activity field will continue to inspire young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and will motivate young researchers to work in high-tech program development projects,” Ciolacu said.

Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital transformation Bogdan-Gruia Ivan, head of the Prime Minister’s Chancellery Alexandru-Mihai Ghigiu, president of the Romanian Space Agency (ROSA) Daniel Cruteanu, and U.S. ambassador to Romania Kathleen Kavalec also participated in the meeting at the Victoria Palace of Government.

AGERPRES