Kazakhstan: Kazakhstan plays down spat with Russia over rocket launch

RIA Novosti - Kazakhstan moved to play down a spat with Russia over a delay in a rocket launch from the Russian-leased space center in the Central Asian republic earlier this week, saying it was a result of a misunderstanding.

Russia's launch of a European communications satellite on a Proton rocket from Baikonur was delayed from Monday until late Tuesday, which sparked a bitter exchange of accusations between the two ex-Soviet nations.

"There has been no scandal around the launch. It was a typical misunderstanding. One side had put an inaccurately worded phrase in documents, and the other had to change a whole range of procedures as a result," Talgat Musabayev, head of Kazcosmos space agency told reporters, adding the two countries should streamline organizational procedures.

Kazcosmos accused Russia's space agency on Monday of constantly changing launch plans, which led to the delay in the Proton-M blast.

Published by i On Global Trends - Mike Hitchen Online - news, opinion, analysis
See also Sydney Irresistible and Mike Hitchen Unleashed
Putting principles before profits