The United States and Russia have reaffirmed their commitment to the International Space Station program.

The U.S.-Russia space partnership has deepened following the loss of the U.S. shuttle Columbia, President Bush and President Putin said in a June 1 joint statement issued in St. Petersburg, Russia, where the two leaders met.

They said the two countries will complement each other's efforts aimed at resupplying the space station, transporting its crews and restoring shuttle flights.

Following is the text of the joint statement:

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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary (St. Petersburg, Russia)
June 1, 2003

JOINT STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH AND PRESIDENT VLADIMIR V. PUTIN ON U.S.-RUSSIAN COOPERATION IN SPACE

The loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia has underscored the historic role of the United States and Russia as partners in space exploration, who have persevered despite tragedy and adversity. During this challenging time, our partnership has deepened and the International Space Station (ISS) program remains strong. The extraordinary efforts of our countries continue. The United States is committed to safely returning the Space Shuttle to flight, and the Russian Federation is committed to meeting the ISS crew transport and logistics resupply requirements necessary to maintain our joint American astronaut and Russian cosmonaut teams on board the ISS until the Space Shuttle returns to flight.

We confirm our mutual aspiration to ensure the continued assembly and viability of the International Space Station as a world-class research facility, relying on our unprecedented experience of bilateral and multilateral interaction in space. We reaffirm our commitment to the mission of human space flight and are prepared to take energetic steps to enhance our cooperation in the application of space technology and techniques.

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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)