P. O. Box 500, a-1400, Vienna, Austria. Corrections will be issued in a consolidated corrigendum

 

COPUOS/T.551 

Page 13

 

major achievements of researchers in Nigeria and 

Africa in all aspects of space science and technology. 

 

 

Mr. Chairman, Nigeria remains committed to 

its bilateral and multilateral agreements, including 

those with international organizations such as the 

DMC, CEOS and GEOS.  It also pledges its support to 

international protocols and treaties governing space 

exploration, especially the peaceful uses of outer space. 

 

 

Mr. Chairman, Nigeria considers the use of 

space technology strategic to the realization of its 

economic reform programmes, such as the National 

Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy.  

This reform is aimed at achieving some of the 

objectives of the New Partnership for Africa’s 

Development, NEPAD, and the United Nations 

Millennium Development Goals, MDG, particularly in 

the areas of food security, comprehensive rural health 

delivery, job and wealth creation and poverty 

alleviation. 

 

Mr. Chairman, the systematic implementation 

of the Nigerian space policy and programme is 

considered as part of the overall national development 

strategy and Nigeria remains focused and committed to 

the achievements of these objectives. 

 

 

I thank you Mr. Chairman. 

 

 

The CHAIRMAN 

(interpretation from 

French):  Thank you Mr. Maiyegun for your statement 

on behalf of the Nigerian delegation.  I have to say that 

I was very impressed by the breadth of space-related 

activities pursued by Nigeria, these observation 

satellites, the future telecommunications satellite, on 

which you are working right now.  I was very pleased 

to hear that the DMC constellation has joined the 

International Charter on emergency situations and you 

are fully participating now in these Charter activities.  

Congratulations on the remarkable accomplishments of 

your country in the area of outer space activities. 

 

 

We are now moving on to the statement by the 

delegation of India.  I believe Dr. Suresh is going to 

speak on behalf of his country.  Thank you. 

 

 

Mr. B. N. SURESH (India):  Thank you Mr. 

Chairman.  The Indian delegation is pleased to see you 

in the Chair guiding the deliberations of the forty-ninth 

session of COPUOS.  We express our hearty 

congratulations to you for the election as the Chairman 

of COPUOS for the year 2006-2007.  We are confident 

that under your able guidance and leadership and with 

your vast experience in the space arena and also your 

long-term association with the United Nations forum, 

this Committee will achieve substantial progress during 

the session.  You can also count on the full cooperation 

and support of the Indian delegation in achieving 

excellent results in this Committee under your 

leadership. 

 

 

We also congratulate Mr. Elöd Both and Mr. 

Paul Tiendrebeogo on being elected as the First and 

Second Vice-Chairman of COPUOS.  We are sure the 

new Bureau, with the assistance of the Office for Outer 

Space Affairs, will contribute significantly to the 

progress of the matters related to the agenda items 

identified for this session. 

 

 

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Adigun Ade Abiodun led 

the COPUOS Committee very efficiently during the 

period 2004 to 2005.  We place on record our sincere 

appreciation for his excellent contribution as the 

Chairman of the COPUOS during his two-year tenure. 

 

 

Mr. Chairman, the year 2005 had seen some 

major disasters in various parts of the world like 

massive earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and landslides.  

India conveys its deepest condolences to the countries 

who people were devastated by these disasters.  More 

recently, there has been a devastating earthquake that 

struck the Indonesian island resulting in great loss of 

lives and property.  India conveys its deepest 

condolences to the people of Indonesia. 

 

 

Mr. Chairman, the Indian delegation 

congratulates the United States of America on the 

successful return to flight mission of the Space Shuttle 

and also on the Silver Jubilee Year of the Space Shuttle 

this year.  The successful launch of their New Horizon 

spacecraft to the distant planet Pluto by the United 

States of America is another important space effort and 

we wish them success in their future endeavours.  We 

also congratulate the People’s Republic of China on its 

second successful manned mission flight during 

October 2005. 

 

 

Mr. Chairman, the effective utilization of 

space systems for national development is the way for 

all developing countries to make substantial progress.  

Conceiving specific application programmes to address 

the societal problems at the grass root level is of utmost 

importance.  Towards this goal, COPUOS has been 

providing the right platform by enthusing many 

countries to take up space application programmes for 

the benefit of mankind.  In the coming years, 

international cooperation in the space arena should get 

further fillip providing better benefits to the developing 

countries.  We look forward to a very fruitful and 

participative deliberation during this session. 

 

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