LEGAL SUBCOMMITTEE CONCLUDES THIRTY-EIGHTH SESSION AT VIENNA, 1-5 MARCH
Press Release
OS/1748
LEGAL SUBCOMMITTEE CONCLUDES THIRTY-EIGHTH SESSION AT VIENNA, 1-5 MARCH
19990305 Sets Up Working Group To Promote Full Adherence to Space Treaties Agrees on Contribution to World Conference on Space Technology (UNISPACE III)VIENNA, 5 March (UN Information Service) -- The Legal Subcommittee, one of the two subsidiary bodies of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Use of Outer Space (COPUOS), concluded its thirty-eighth session here today proceeding with its efforts to improve acceptance, implementation and strict observance of the five international space treaties. Delegates also finalized what form their contribution would be to the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III) to be held in Vienna from 19 to 30 July.
The Subcommittee met between 1 and 5 March for a shortened session on an exceptional basis, instead of its two-week regular session periods, in order to allow for savings to be used for UNISPACE III, which will be held as a special meeting of COPUOS and within existing resources.
The Subcommittee is in its second year of a three-year major review of the status of the five international treaties governing outer space (the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, 1968 Rescue Agreement, 1972 Liability Convention, 1975 Registration Convention and 1979 Moon Agreement). To conclude its three-year work successfully, the Subcommittee set up a working group which has as its main task to consider possible measures that would help achieve the widest and fullest adherence to these treaties. The working group was led by Vassilios Cassapoglou (Greece).
In order to obtain the fullest adherence to the five legal instruments governing outer space, the working group agreed on recommendations that aim to strengthen the principles and effectiveness of international space law by inviting States which have not yet become part of the treaties to do so. As regards countries that signed the treaties already, the Subcommittee asked them to ensure a more strict compliance with those instruments.
During the session, delegates also agreed that their contribution to UNISPACE III would take the form of a report by the Chairman that would detail the past achievements of the Subcommittee, its current work and the future, new challenges in the development of international space law. Participants
also reviewed and commented on the space law sections of a draft report expected to be finalized and adopted during the UNISPACE III conference.
Member States agreed that the innovations in space technology and the dramatic growth in the commercialization and privatization of space related activities since the previous world conference on space, UNISPACE II in 1982, calls for strengthening existing rules and regulations governing outer space activities as well as for the elaboration of new norms and principles. Those new standards of behaviour could include issues that have already been suggested as future agenda items for the work of the Legal Subcommittee, such as: commercial aspects of space activities (for example, property rights, insurance and liability); legal aspects of space debris; comparative review of the principles of international space law and international environment law; and review of international space law.
The Subcommittee took note of a proposal, made by the German delegation, to introduce a new agenda item entitled, Review of the Concept of "Launching State". The proposal may be presented for discussion at the meeting of the COPUOS at its 1999 session in July.
A second German proposal, made on behalf of various States, to change the current agenda and restructure it, was welcomed by a number of members of the Subcommittee. The proposal is meant to change the current way of conducting business and reflects the recent efforts of Member States to revitalize discussions in the Legal Subcommittee.
The Subcommittee also continued its consideration of legal issues relating to the review and possible revision of the United Nations principles relevant to the use of nuclear power sources in outer space, the definition and delimitation of outer space and the character and utilization of the geostationary orbit.
In the beginning of the conference Vladimir Kopal (Czech Republic) was elected to take over the chairmanship for the remaining period of the three- year term of office from Vaclav Mikulka (Czech Republic), who recently resigned.
UNISPACE III
The third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III) will be held in Vienna from 19 to 30 July. It will be convened as a special session of COPUOS, open to all 185 Member States of the United Nations, international organizations and space industry. The theme of the Conference is "Space Benefits for Humanity in the Twenty-first Century".
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The Conference is intended to promote effective means of using space technology and increase international cooperation to assist in the solution of a variety of global problems. This should subsequently lead to strengthening Member States capabilities to use space applications for national development and therefore increase public awareness of possible benefits from space technology.
The conference is also slated to include the following activities:
-- A Technical Forum with about 40 seminars, workshops and discussion round tables on such subjects as astronomy, international space law, health and education;
-- A space exhibition showcasing global achievements in space technology, with rocket displays and multi-media demonstrations as well as a business opportunities forum (open to the public from 21 to 23 July -- for more information, please contact the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, tel: 1-703-264-7535);
-- A Space Generation Forum for university, graduate students and young professionals, giving them a chance to air their views on crucial space activities for the next century.
Treaties
The 1967 Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies ("Outer Space Treaty") provides that space exploration shall be carried out for the benefit of all countries, irrespective of their degree of development. It also seeks to maintain outer space as the province of all mankind, free for exploration and use by all States and not subject to national appropriation.
The 1968 Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space ("Rescue Agreement") provides for aiding the crews of spacecraft in the event of accident or emergency landing, and establishes a procedure for returning to a launching authority a space object found beyond the territorial limits of that authority.
The 1972 Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects ("Liability Convention") provides that the launching State is liable for damage caused by its space objects on the earth's surface or to aircraft in flight and also to space objects of another State or persons or property on board such objects.
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The 1975 Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space ("Registration Convention") provides that launching States shall maintain registries of space objects and furnish specified information on each space object launched, for inclusion in a central United Nations Register.
The 1979 Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies ("Moon Agreement") elaborates in more specific terms the principles relating to the Moon and other celestial bodies set out in the 1966 Treaty and sets up the basis for the future regulation of exploration and exploitation of natural resources found on such bodies.
Membership
The Subcommittee is made up of the following 61 members from the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba*, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia*, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru*, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea*, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam and Yugoslavia.
(* Peru and Malaysia rotate every two years with Cuba and the Republic of Korea.)
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