Dear friends,

only two superpowers – former Soviet Union and the United States of America – participated in manned space flights when Prague hosted this event of world significance in 1977. Nowadays this branch is the matter of the wide international cooperation also thanks to the International Astronautical Federation.
I´m truly delighted I can give my best regards to the all participants of the 61st International Astronautical Congress in the time when the Czech Republic is already the member of the European Space Agency and confirms again its place in the field of research and space exploitation. Already since my space flight more then 30 years ago (in 1978) I´m positive that space activities are the clear example of the achievement and necessity of the international cooperation.
I have seen our planet Earth only with the natural borders such as rivers, mountains, seas and oceans in the course of my space flight. I believe that the 61st International Astronautical Congress contributes towards creation of no other borders among us, inhabitants of our lovely planet. But on the contrary to pull down the artificial ones which divides us so often.
I wish you a pleasant stay in Prague and hope that its friendly environment and beauty will contribute to the success of the Congress.

Vladimír Remek,
Cosmonaut, member of the Soyuz 28 and Salyut 6 crews (March 1978)
Member of the European Parliament