COPUOS/T.551
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application of the five United Nations treaties on outer
space. This discussion demonstrates that the interest in
the development of international space law on the part
of COPUOS member States has steadily increased. In
that context, we call for giving our support to the
suggestion made by the delegations of Russian,
Ukraine and Kazakhstan in the Legal Subcommittee’s
session to issue a questionnaire on the further ways of
developing international space law.
The issue of the definition and delimitation of
outer space, which was also actively discussed at the
Legal Subcommittee’s session, is worthy of close
attention, in our view. Specifically, this was
demonstrated by the work that led up to the Plenary
session of the Disarmament Conference, starting in
Geneva as we speak. It will touch upon a number of
issues that directly relate to this matter. And this, once
again, highlights the importance of finding an early
compromise approach to the solution of this problem.
Mr. Chairman, I have already mentioned the
fact that this year has seen a number of anniversaries of
milestones in space activities. The next year, 2007,
will also have a number of important dates, important
for the history of space exploration.
Next year, we are going to celebrate the one
hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the birth of the
pioneer of space exploration, as we know it, the creator
of rocket motion theory, Russian scientist, Konstantin
Siolkovski(?).
As well as the Centenary of the birth of the
Soviet design of the first space rocket systems, which
were used to make the first manned spaceflights in
history and the first-ever time when man stepped out
into outer space. I am referring, of course, to Sergei
Korolov(?).
Another important date, obviously, is the
fiftieth anniversary of the launch of the first satellite.
To mark these festive dates, the Russian
Federation plans to hold a number of scientific and
technological, as well as educational events, including
those that will be internationally attended. The
Russian delegation will make a special presentation in
the course of this session of COPUOS.
At this point, I would like to take this
opportunity and invite all interested delegations, as
well as representatives of the United Nations Office for
Outer Space Affairs, to take part in these events.
Mr. Chairman, the Russian delegation
reserves the right to take the floor again and address
the various items on the agenda as we come to them.
Thank
you
very
much.
The CHAIRMAN
(interpretation from
French): Thank you Mr. Gonchar for your statement.
As we all know, Russia is a major actor in the outer
space arena and the distinguished delegate of the
Russian Federation has reminded all of us of the
extremely useful and constructive contribution made to
our debate, be it the legal aspects, safety standards for
the use of nuclear power sources in outer space, the
issue of space debris, and, of course, again, our friends
from the Russian Federation have mentioned and will
speak again about the programme of events planned for
next year to mark the various anniversaries related to
outer space exploration.
I think we have received a question from
Ambassador González of Chile. Ambassador?
Mr. R. GONZÁLEZ ANINAT (Chile)
(interpretation from Spanish): Thank you Mr.
Chairman. I have a question. It has to do with the
statement made by the distinguished representative of
the Russian Federation.
Before I ask my question, however, let me
congratulate you, Mr. Chairman, on your election to
this important post and I thank and commend your
predecessor.
I believe that small countries, like mine, also
have an important role to play in the work of this
Committee, even though we do not have space
technology as such. We hope to be able to make our
own significant contribution towards international
cooperation in outer space.
And let me, once again, point out the
following, in the wake of the Russian representative’s
statement.
We support the suggestion that outer space
law should be brought up to date in the ways that have
been described here. When we look at the existing
outer space treaties, which are subject of an ongoing
discussion within the Legal Subcommittee, we have to
admit that some of these instruments are outdated and
have to be reviewed and brought up to date in
conformity with the recent breakthroughs in science
and technology.
COPUOS/T.551
Page 5
It has to be pointed out that some of these
instruments have existed as a thing on to itself, not
sufficiently open and not sufficiently in keeping with
the spirit of outer space exploration and the truly
international spirit of outer space exploration. I am
thinking in particular of my country, of other countries
of Latin America, we really need a free flow of
information, an opportunity to share in the latest
breakthroughs and accomplishments. It is a sort of a
paradox that those countries that are always speaking
out in favour of the freedom of information, free
exchange, free trade and so on and so forth, seem to
forget those same ideological principles when it is a
matter relating to what they perceive as their own
national security. As a result, often times, existing
principles and instruments, underlying space activities,
remain a dead letter and are not truly applied in
practice, or are applied in a selective way. We all
know very well the kind of problems that I am
referring to.
Perhaps the Legal Subcommittee of
COPUOS, its Working Group on Outer Space Law,
could tackle these issues in a more practical and
immediate way. I know a number of delegations
would be quite interested in participating in such work.
Some very important events have already taken place,
such as the Legal Seminar held in Bangalore, India, on
matters pertaining to outer space law. There is a lot of
information available in the world.
But if we look at the existing legal
instruments, we see a number of contradictions, lack of
logic, or lack of logical connection between what is
enshrined in these treaties and what constitutes the
actual day-to-day practice of outer space activities in
terms of the disparity between outer space powers, or
space-faring nations, and smaller nations that do not
benefit from space technologies. We believe that the
interest of all countries are important. Our interests are
as important as the interests of those States that
actually possess outer space technology. The matter
has been discussed on many occasions and in great
detail but the fact remains that we need to come up
with a practical mechanism of revising existing treaties
and the way they are applied. This is badly needed
important work and it should result in an updating of
all aspects of outer space law, taking into account the
appearance of new actors in the international arena,
new technologies. Next year we are going to mark the
fiftieth anniversary of the Space Treaty and 50 years is
an eternity in terms of space exploration, where now an
updating is badly needed. We know there are many
things in today’s space activities that really do not
satisfy us. When I say us, I mean developing
countries.
These issues should be in the forefront of our
attention and it should be reflected in the report of this
Committee’s session. We, specifically countries of
Latin America, are making this statement while being
fully aware of the effort required in that regard, a huge
effort.
We have tried to do our part by convening the
Space Conference of the Americas in Quito in June of
this year, in Quito, Ecuador. I have been to Quito at
the invitation of the Government of Ecuador and I have
seen, with my own eyes, the enthusiasm, the energetic,
dynamic way that Ecuador and other Latin American
countries are preparing for this Conference. So there is
no doubt that it will be a major milestone in the history
of international cooperation of outer space.
I would also like to recall the results of the
Preparatory Meeting held in Cartagena, Colombia,
which was very important, which has led to a number
of important steps, both within the framework of the
United Nations and broadly in the international arena.
Mr. Chairman, I believe that the matter of
regional cooperation, pooling our efforts over specific
issues, specific goals and objectives, is the way to
proceed. And in that regard, the Quito Conference, we
believe, will be a major step in the right direction.
Having said that, we are somewhat surprised
to see that the 2005 United Nations document on
Development makes no mention of some of the most
important regional cooperation activities that we have
undertaken in our part of the world. And this is not
just to do with outer space but the use of space and
space-related technologies for things here on Earth,
such as early warning, natural disasters, tele-medicine,
earthquake prediction and so on and so forth. There is
nothing in that document. And that is unfortunate, in
our view.
The next report of that nature for 2006 will
focus on science and technology especially and it is
absolutely imperative that the issues that I have raised
be considered there. I do not know why they have
been disregarded in the past. Maybe it is the lack of
political will, maybe it is something else. But the use
of space-based technologies for very important and,
indeed, essential objectives of sustainable development
and raising the well-being of our nations in our part of
the world, have been overlooked. I believe it is really
of paramount importance, Mr. Chairman, for us to
make sure that this situation is rectified, that these
matters are duly considered, not just by this Committee
but by other agencies of the United Nations and its