The U.S. and Russia intend to begin preliminary discussions on an agreement for cooperation between the U.S. GPS satellite navigation system and the Russian Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS).

In a statement released by the U.S. State Department today, spokesman Richard Boucher said “The United States and the Russian Federation intend to cooperate, as appropriate, on matters of mutual interest related to civil satellite-based navigation and timing signals and systems, value added services, and global navigation and timing goods in relevant international organizations and fora. In particular, both sides intend to work together to the maximum extent practicable to maintain radio frequency compatibility in spectrum use between each other’s satellite-based navigation and timing signals.”