Lima, April 7, 2005.- With the full backing of the Andean Community countries, Venezuela has acquired a temporary satellite and is moving it into the 67º west orbital position, the Orbit/Spectrum Resource (OSR) obtained by the CAN member countries from the International Telecommunications Union.

The purpose of these actions is to maintain and safeguard the rights of the Andean Community countries to the cited orbit and, in this way, guarantee the future establishment, use and exploitation of the Simón Bolívar Andean satellite.

Venezuela is taking these actions in compliance with Decision 605 of this past February 25, in which the Andean countries authorized it “to place a temporary satellite in orbital position 67ºW on behalf of the Andean Community, until such a time as an Andean Multinational Enterprise (AME) is able to take charge of the establishment, operation and exploitation, as well as the definitive preservation, of the CAN Member Countries’ OSR.”

According to that same Community provision, the expenses incurred by Venezuela to acquire and position the temporary satellite will be computed as part of its contribution to the creation of the AME authorized by the CAN Commission to use the Orbit/Spectrum Resource.

The important steps taken to fulfill the commitments acquired by Venezuela through Decision 605 were reported during the Second Meeting of the Ad Hoc Group of the Andean Satellite System, being held today at the Lima headquarters of the Andean Community General Secretariat.

Representatives of the Andean Community countries who are participating in this meeting expressed their satisfaction at the advances made and pointed up the importance, for the execution of social, educational, health, economic and other projects, of the establishment of an Andean satellite.