Recognizing
 

The importance of this very large millimeter/submillimeter array to address a wide range of ftindamental issues in astronomy and astrophysics

The great interest of the astronomical communities of Japan, Europe and North America in this project

The advantage of combining these aspirations in a single global project

The identification of a suitable site in northern Chile at Cerro El Chasc6n (Pampa del Chajnantor)
 

And Noting
 

The efforts that have already been made by all three communities to develop the necessary technologies and to jointly study the proposed site

The Resolution between the ACC and the NAOJ of 12 November 1999 concerning coordination in the design and development phase

The progress made by the ALMA Liaison Group (ALG) in defining a tripartite ALMA with the participation of Europe, North America and Japan

The statement made by the Director of the Research Institute Division of Monbusho on the occasion of the ACC meeting of October 13, 2000 in Paris and the reply to it by the ACC Chair

The strong support of the ALMA Science Advisory Committee, made up of eminent scientists from Europe, Japan and North Arnerica for a tripartite ALMA Project that leads to a significant enhancement in the science capability

The Signatories resolve
 

• To work towards the earliest possible final definition of the tripartite ALMA Project;

• To work towards conclusion of a final trilateral agreement establishing a Europe-Japan-North American partnership appropriate for the planning of the ALMA project, and to work jointly towards the conclusion of appropriate arrangements with the host state Chile;

• To develop the final trilateral agreement guided by the draft which has been discussed amongst the partners;

• To use best effort to obtain approval and funding for this project;

• That a Japanese Delegation will, with immediate effect, participate in the work of the ACC through an expanded ALMA Coordinating Committee.
 

Tokyo, April 6, 2001

For the ALMA Coordination Committee:

Dr Catherine Cesarsky, Chair

Dr Robert Eisenstein, Vice Chair

For the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, under the authority of

the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology:

Dr Norio Kaifu, Director General of the NAOJ

Attachments:

1. Draft of the trilateral Agreement dated March 29, 2001
 

2. Members of the expanded ALMA Coordinating Committee (EACC)