Russia has consistently cooperated with CERN and presently is an observer in the organization.
"In my opinion, CERN is a main link in the chain of leading scientific organizations in the world," Mr. Fursenko said. "Participation in such large international projects is very important for Russia today."
Seven hundred and forty-four Russian scientists are involved in CERN experimental groups.
"I think that from the point of view of the possibility of Russian scientists' participation in the research on the one hand," he said, "and from the point of view of the possibility of the international community to receive the most from our knowledge on the other hand, Russia's status today suits both sides."
According to him, negotiations in the five-five format (five representatives from Russia and five from CERN) have been scheduled for the end of November to discuss the development of further cooperation programs.
One of CERN's main projects is the construction of the Large Hadron Collider, a 27km proton-antiproton accelerator at a depth of 100m. The construction is planned to be completed by 2007.
"For us," he said, "it is important to be involved in this project on equal grounds when there are results."
"Unfortunately, we do not have enough money yet to become a full-fledged member of CERN," Mr. Rumyantsev said. "But Russia's contribution to the creation of the Large Hadron Collider is very appreciable and very highly rated by the entire world scientific community."
According to him, discoveries made by the new accelerator "can radically change all our views about the world that surrounds us and some of the existing concepts."
"I hope that in 2007," he said, "or at most in 2008, the first experiments in CERN will produce appreciable results."
