The agreement was signed here by ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain and Russian Space Agency chief Anatoly Perminov. Both sides hailed the accord as a great achievement that required four years of tough talks.

The European side will allow Russia to conduct space launches from its Guinea space center in Kuru.

"The project for launching Soyuz from Kuru is only a part of a grand project that leads the way to many others," the Russian space chief said at the signing ceremony.

They also signed a launcher agreement in which the two sides will share information on designing new launchers and fuels, according to the joint statement.

Russia conducted the majority of space launches last year, according to Russian officials, carrying out 42.6 percent of launches compared to 29.6 percent by the United States, 14.8 by China and just 5.6 percent by the ESA itself, ahead of India's 1.9 percent share.

The first launch of a Russian Soyuz craft, which also service the International Space Station, from Guinea is tentatively scheduled for 2007, Dordain said.

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