Ibadan, 12 February 2024.- Greece has become the latest country to join the Artemis Accords, as the Greek foreign minister, Giorgos Gerapetritis signed the Accords on the margins of the fifth U.S.-Greece Strategic Dialogue at the Department of State in Washington. Also participating in the event at the U.S. Department of State were NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Dr. Ioannis Daglis, president of the Hellenic Space Center.
The Artemis Accords were established in 2020 by the United States together with seven other original signatories. Since then, the Accords signatories have held focused discussions on how best to implement the Artemis Accords principles. The Accords also reinforce and implement key obligations in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and strengthen the commitment by the United States and signatory nations to the Registration Convention, the Rescue and Return Agreement, as well as best practices NASA and its partners support, including the public release of scientific data.
Speaking on the signing, Gerapetritis commented, “As humanity embarks on a great adventure, returning to the Moon and preparing for travelling beyond the Moon, the Artemis Accords serve as a beacon of collaboration and cooperation among nations, paving the way for a sustainable and peaceful exploration of space.”
Likewise, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson added, “Congratulations to Greece on becoming the 35th country to join the Artemis Accords family. The U.S. and Greece are long-time partners and friends, and we are excited to expand this partnership in the cosmos. Together, we are shaping the future of cooperation in space for the Artemis Generation.”
