Leonid Kuchma: Ukrainians must fly to Moon

President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma and President of Ukrainian Space Agency Alexander Negoda have discussed the initiative of US President George Bush about space exploration and human settlements on other planets. This was announced to a Rosbalt correspondent by the president's press office.

Mr Kuchma said that as a country with ambitions in space Ukraine must collaborate with the world community. Mr Kuchma and Mr Negoda discussed the state of high technologies in Ukraine, issues relating to the reform of the national space industry and innovation as well as proposals for Ukraine to join the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization.

'Today people are already talking seriously about living on the moon and then on Mars. I hope that Ukraine will also be involved in this process. Ukrainians simply must travel to the moon! Not all of them, of course. Somebody must stay for the flight to Mars,' Mr Kuchma said.