Russia to Lease Space Site in Kazakhstan
Russia agreed Monday to lease the Baikonur space launch site in Kazakhstan for 20 years, settling a longstanding dispute, Russian news services said.
The agreement was one of 23 signed at the Kremlin by Russian President Boris N. Yeltsin and Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev on political, military and economic cooperation.
Under the agreement reached Monday, Russia will pay Kazakhstan $115 million annually for 20 years, with an option to lease the cosmodrome for an additional 10 years. Kazakhstan had been holding out for $150 million a year, the Interfax news agency said.
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