FOURTH COMMITTEE APPROVES TEXT ON PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE

Press Release
GA/SPD/142

FOURTH COMMITTEE APPROVES TEXT ON PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE

The General Assembly would urge all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space, by the terms of a draft resolution on international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space approved this morning by the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization).

By other terms of the text, which was approved without a vote, the Assembly would recommend that more attention be paid to all aspects related to the protection and the preservation of the outer space environment, especially those potentially affecting the Earth's environment.

Furthermore, the Assembly would note with satisfaction that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space continued to consider, on a priority basis, the agenda item on space debris and that the work of the Subcommittee at its thirty-fifth session had concentrated on the topic of space debris mitigation measures.

Also this morning, as the Committee concluded its consideration of issues relating to the use of outer space, the acting Chairman of the Outer Space Committee said he had heard about proposed changes in the staff of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, beginning with its director. The Outer Space Committee fully supported the statement and comments made in that regard by the representative of the United States during yesterday's Fourth Committee meeting. The United Nations could not afford the luxury of dispensing with the valuable contribution of that Office, especially at such a crucial stage. It would be unrealistic to press ahead without the support of the Secretariat with preparations for a world conference of such scope, magnitude and importance, particularly for developing countries.

Statements were also made by the representative of Ukraine and Chile.

The Fourth Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 29 October, to begin its consideration of the comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects.

Committee Work Programme

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) met this morning to conclude its discussion on international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space. The Committee was also expected to take action on a related draft resolution.

Statements

PABLO MACEDO (Mexico), Committee Chairman, drew the Committee's attention to a draft resolution on international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space (document A/C.4/53/L.7), which was then circulated.

The Committee then continued its general discussion.

VICTOR SEMENENKO (Ukraine) said his country had participated successfully in a number of international space projects. Among them, of special significance to Ukraine, was the historic mission of the first Ukrainian spaceman, Leonid Kadenyuk, who had taken part in a mission of the United States shuttle Columbia last November. Further evidence of Ukraine's scientific and technological achievements included the use of its launch vehicles in a number of international peaceful space programmes. During the past seven years, 47 launches had been carried out by Ukraine's rocket carriers, which had put into orbit 80 space satellites.

He said that of special importance among the international space exploration programmes was the "Sea Launch" project, involving Ukraine, Russian Federation, Norway and the United States. That programme was only for commercial purposes, which meant that no services would be offered to any country or organization that would want to use it for other than peaceful purposes. As of today, Ukraine had signed agreements on cooperation in the field of space research with 23 countries, in particular with the Russian Federation, United States, China, Brazil and India.

The progress and scientific achievements of society had put forward new tasks and challenges in the exploration of outer space, he said. Analysts had said that, in the next decade, more than 1,000 new communication satellites were scheduled to be put into orbit. More and more space vehicles were planned to be launched to help nations in resolving their scientific, social and economic problems. That and other objectives could be solved only through the development of close, mutually beneficial cooperation among and between all interested Member States. In that respect, the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space must strengthen its leading role in promoting and coordinating international cooperation in the use of outer space for peaceful purposes, and direct that cooperation to the benefit of the world.

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RAIMUNDO GONZALEZ (Chile), speaking on behalf of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), said that while the final report of the Second United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE 82), reflected a large number of recommendations and had given rise to the establishment of a working group in the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Outer Space Committee, it had had no further consequences of practical impact. The new international paradigm that was beginning to take shape in the post-cold war era was one of international cooperation. There were no doubts that the international scene had undergone a far-reaching change. Accordingly, the new paradigm would most likely take shape based on the appropriate political will on the part of all nations.

He said it was inexplicable that space technology, which was so close at hand for solving specific problems faced by mankind, had not been invoked -- by those who had taken the political decisions -- as an integrating element to successfully deal with the factors that made issues of a humanitarian nature difficult. Accordingly, there was no correlation between technological effort and its innovative use for the benefit of the world as a whole. In that respect, without disregarding the fact that the responsibility rested fundamentally with the industrialized Powers, room must be made for a strong measure of self-criticism.

The MERCOSUR believed that it was necessary to take a comprehensive view to effectively address the transnational challenges posed by today's world, he said. In that context, ethics played a predominant role. People could no longer continue to sit impassively watching, via broadcasts over direct satellite television, the atrocities committed in other parts of the world. In that connection, the unrestrained use of natural resources, basically by the developed countries, represented a general loss for mankind. Moreover, the issue of space debris, from a scientific, technical and legal standpoint, needed to be tackled as rapidly as possible, bearing in mind the enormous number of satellites that had entered the period of their obsolescence and constituted a danger to mankind.

Mr. GONZALEZ then spoke in his capacity as the acting Chairman of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. He was concerned with the situation of space affairs at the United Nations. The Outer Space Committee had heard there would be changes in the staff of the Office for Outer Space Affairs, beginning with its director. He fully supported the statement and comments made in that regard by the representative of the United States during yesterday's session. The United Nations could not afford the luxury of dispensing with the valuable contribution of that division, especially at such a crucial stage. It would be unrealistic to press ahead without the support of the Secretariat in the preparations for a world conference of such scope, magnitude and importance, particularly to developing countries.

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Action on Draft Resolution

Mr. MACEDO (Mexico), Committee Chairman, then called on the representative of India to introduce the draft resolution contained in document A/C.4/53/L.7.

YASH K. SINHA (India) introduced the draft. He said the text was basically similar in content and format to last year's resolution.

By terms of the draft resolution, the General Assembly would endorse the recommendations of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space that its Legal Subcommittee, taking into consideration the concerns of all countries, particularly the developing countries, should continue its consideration of review and possible revision of the Principles Relevant to the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space. It should also continue, through its working group, its consideration of matters relating to the definition and delimitation of outer space and to the character and utilization of the geostationary orbit without prejudice to the role of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

The Subcommittee should also continue its review of the five international legal instruments governing outer space and establish a working group to consider that item, by other terms of the draft. The Subcommittee should continue its consideration of other matters, including informal consultations on specific proposals already made for possible new agenda items for it.

Also by terms of the text, the General Assembly would note with satisfaction that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee continued to consider, on a priority basis, the agenda item on space debris and that the work of the Subcommittee at its thirty-fifth session concentrated on the topic of space debris mitigation measures, on the basis of the multi-year work plan adopted by the Subcommittee at its thirty-second session.

By further terms of the text, the General Assembly would endorse the recommendations of the Outer Space Committee that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, taking into account the concerns of all countries, particularly the developing countries, should consider the following priority items: preparations for the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III) by the Advisory Committee for that conference; space debris; and the United Nations Programme on Space Applications and the coordination of space activities within the United Nations system.

Further, the Assembly would agree that, in view of the abbreviated schedule of work of the Outer Space Committee at its forty-second session and the preparatory work to be conducted for UNISPACE III, the Committee should suspend its work on the following items for one year, to be resumed at its

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forty-third session: consideration, as a matter of priority, of ways and means of maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes; and consideration of the item entitled "Spin-off benefits of space technology: review of current status".

Also, according to the text, the Assembly would urge all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space as an essential condition for the promotion of international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes. Moreover, it would recommend that more attention be paid to all aspects related to the protection and the preservation of the outer space environment, especially those potentially affecting the Earth's environment.

The Committee approved the draft resolution without a vote.

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