The application was submitted in December 2013. “I think we will obtain this status this year. Interdepartmental coordination is currently under way; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs participates actively in it. The issue left the sphere of science and scientific policy and is now in the sphere of foreign politics. But since there are no conceptual objections, everybody considers it as important and necessary business, I am convinced that this year we will sign the agreement and Russia will become the associate member of CERN,” said Livanov.