An independent estimate of the cosmological distance to GRB970228 and GRB970508

Assuming binary neutron star mergings as a standard-candle model for GRBs, an independent estimate is obtained for the redshift of GRB970228 and GRB970508 with optical counterparts, using mean statistical properties of GRBs observed by BATSE. We derive z=0.7\pm 0.1 and z=1.9\pm 0.1 for GRB970228 and GRB970508 respectively, depending on the power-law index of the GRB spectrum s=-1.1\pm 0.3 and the value of the redshift of the initial star formation z_*=3-10 in a flat \Omega=1 Universe with a cosmological term \Lambda=0.7.