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Official Transcripts

Close Window Spaso House guests are watching the message from Secretary Clinton.<br> Click to watch video (subtitled in Russian)
Spaso House guests are watching the message from Secretary Clinton.
Click to watch video (subtitled in Russian)

Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton Message to Participants in the Russian Academy of Sciences–U.S. National Academy of Sciences 50th Anniversary Celebration of Scientific Cooperation

Spaso House,

June 17, 2009

I am very pleased to send greetings to all of you celebrating the 50th anniversary of the inter-academy scientific cooperation agreement between our two academies of science.  I would especially like to thank the Russian Academy of Sciences for hosting this wonderful, collaborative event.

In 1959, the United States National Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Sciences of the USSR signed an agreement that began a half-century of cooperation.  This agreement initiated a number of exchanges and eventually facilitated direct collaboration between hundreds of laboratories and thousands of scientists in our two countries.   

For the past five decades, U.S. and Russian scientists have engaged in research on health, energy, the environment, conducted joint workshops, and programs, and experiments.  Issues such as the innovation and commercialization of technology have become focal points for our partnership.  We have also had strong cooperation on security-related concerns such as safeguarding radioactive materials, managing nuclear waste, helping scientists make the transition from military to civilian research.

I want assure you that the Obama administration is committed to reinvigorating the scientific collaboration between the U.S. and Russia.  The people of our two nations have always benefited from the knowledge, discoveries, and relationships that have come about as a result of our cooperation.

In April, President Obama and President Medvedev jointly asserted their desire, and I quote, for “more scientific cooperation” between our governments and among scientists in our universities, research institutes, and other scientific organizations.  As you continue to build upon longstanding collaborations and begin new ones, please know that President Obama and I support and stand with you.  So thank you.  Thank you to the members of both Academies. I wish you a very happy and productive 50th anniversary.