Ukraine to launch satellite for Azerbaijan

July 19

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostyantyn Gryshchenko said on Monday that Ukraine is planning to launch "AzerSat," Azerbaijan's first satellite, with its rocket, according to news reaching here from Baku, capital of Azerbaijan.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, Gryshchenko said that they exchanged views on strengthening cooperation in the field of aviation and spaceflight, focusing on the joint satellite launch project.

According to an Azerbaijani expert, "AzerSat" will cost 163 million manat (204 million U.S.dollars). If launched successfully, it will help improve the quality and stability of Azerbaijan's communication and TV transmission.

Azerbaijan will also become the transit country between Europe and Asia in TV transmission if the satellite can cover the European area, said the expert.

Gryshchenko arrived in Baku on Monday after attending the informal foreign ministers' meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Almaty, Kazakhstan.