PARTNERSHIPS WITH PRIVATE SECTOR, COOPERATION IN DISASTER PREVENTION AMONG THEMES OF FOURTH COMMITTEE"S OUTER SPACE DEBATE

Press Release
GA/SPD/168

PARTNERSHIPS WITH PRIVATE SECTOR, COOPERATION IN DISASTER PREVENTION AMONG THEMES OF FOURTH COMMITTEE’S OUTER SPACE DEBATE

The Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III) marked the first global meeting with full participation by industry and civil society as partners of Governments, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) was told this afternoon as it started its debate on outer space issues.

The Conference (Vienna, 19-30 July 1999) reflected increasing economic use of outer space and the rapidly growing importance of private companies in that area, said the representative of Finland, speaking on behalf of the European Union. The involvement of private and commercial enterprises reflected the fact that industry was playing a key role in the development of space technology and its applications.

Stressing the importance of sharing the benefits of space technology with the developing countries, the representative of India recalled the final document produced by the Conference -- the Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development. He said that the action programmes developed at UNISPACE III should be given priority. It was necessary to establish a special voluntary fund to implement the recommendations of the Conference as envisaged in the Vienna Declaration.

Regarding regional cooperation, the representative of Greece drew attention to the establishment of the Network of Space Science and Technology Education and Research Institutions of Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, saying that it could play an important part in the dissemination of space science and technology in the region. The representative of Greece likewise noted the signing of an agreement between his country’s national space centre and the European Space Agency, aimed at placing their satellites at the disposal of countries that needed them, especially with regard to disaster prevention and mitigation.

Fourth Committee - 1a - Press Release GA/SPD/168 14th Meeting (PM) 25 October 1999

At the opening of the meeting, the Chairman of the Fourth Committee made a statement before inviting the Chairman of the Outer Space Committee to introduce the reports of UNISPACE III and the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.

Also speaking in today’s debate were representatives of Colombia, Japan, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, and China.

The Fourth Committee will continue consideration of international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space at a time and date to be announced.

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) met this afternoon to begin consideration of international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.

Before the Committee was the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (document A/54/20), which describes that body’s most recent session, held in Vienna from 14 to 16 July 1999. It also describes the work of the Outer Space Committee's Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and its Legal subcommittee.

The report says that the Committee agreed on the need for international cooperation to expand appropriate and affordable strategies to minimize the potential impact of space debris on future space missions. In particular, it was felt that Member States should pay more attention to the problem of collisions of space objects -- including those with nuclear power sources -- with space debris.

Owing to the complexity of space debris questions, the report recommends that the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) continue to brief the Subcommittee annually. Further, the Subcommittee should assess the effectiveness of existing space debris mitigation practices and the extent of their implementation; and efforts to model and characterize the debris environment should continue. The technical report on space debris should be updated as new technological developments occur and as the technical understanding of the space debris environment improves.

According to the report, the Committee agreed that the Subcommittee, at its next session, should review international application of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) standards and IADC recommendations concerning the disposal of satellites in geosynchronous orbit at the end of their useful life. The area of focus could be expanded to include the disposal of upper stages used to achieve geosynchronous orbits and debris issues associated with geosynchronous transfer orbits.

The report cites the view of some Committee members that, in view of the Subcommittee's completion of the multi-year work plan and the technical report on space debris, the Outer Space Committee should request its Legal Subcommittee to consider presenting its views on the applicability of the existing outer space treaties to space debris, as proposed in the working paper presented by France and reproduced in annex II to the present report. Other members felt that it was premature for the Legal Subcommittee to discuss space debris before the technical report had been thoroughly analysed by Member States and by the relevant space-related organizations and industry.

According to the report, the Committee noted with satisfaction that the Office for Outer Space Affairs had continued to develop a World Wide Web home page (http://www.un.org.@/OOSA/index.html), offering access to information sources within the United Nations system and to external databases. It also expressed satisfaction at the publication of Seminars of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications: Selected Papers on Remote Sensing, Space Science and Information Technology (document A/AC.105/711) and of a booklet entitled, Space for Development, which gives detailed descriptions of the Committee's activities.

On regional and interregional cooperation, the Committee expressed appreciation for the continuing efforts by the United Nations Programme on Space Applications, in leading an international effort to establish regional centres for space science and technology education in existing national or regional educational institutions in developing countries. Once established, the report notes, each centre could expand and become part of a network that could cover specific programme elements related to space science and technology in established institutions in each region.

The Committee noted that the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific commenced its seventh nine-month course at the Space Applications Centre at Ahmedabad, India, on 1 July 1999. Also noted was the inauguration of the (French) African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology on 24 October 1998 in Morocco. The report says that the Regional Centre will convene a first session, of training in remote sensing and geographic information systems in January 2000, and a second session, on space telecommunication, in the spring of 2000. The Regional Centre is also planning a workshop to identify the needs of African countries in space science and technology. A counterpart centre -- working in English -- had been inaugurated on 24 November 1998 in Nigeria.

According to the report, the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Latin America and the Caribbean, with facilities in Brazil and Mexico, is to be inaugurated this year. In preparation for the opening of the Brazilian campus of the Centre, the National Institute for Space Research of Brazil had carried out a number of activities for the benefit of States in the region.

Missions were sent to Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic from 24 June to 1 July 1998 to evaluate the establishment of a regional centre for space science and technology education in western Asia, the report says. The mission reports are being finalized in consultation with the two Governments, with a view to selecting a host country for the centre.

In addition, the report states, a mission was sent to Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Turkey from 24 November to 7 December 1998, to undertake a technical study and provide a report to be used in determining an agreed framework for the operation of the Network of Space Science and Technology Education and Research Institutions for Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe. The Steering Committee for the Network held a meeting in February 1999 to discuss further procedures for the operation of the Network.

According to the report, the Committee emphasized the importance of regional and international cooperation in making the benefits of space technology available to all countries by such cooperative activities as sharing payloads, disseminating information on spin-off benefits, ensuring compatibility of space systems and providing access to launch capabilities at reasonable cost.

Regarding the Subcommittee's future work, the report says the Committee has asked the Secretariat to invite Member States and international organizations to submit information to the Subcommittee on the identification of terrestrial processes and technical standards that might be relevant to nuclear power sources, including factors that distinguish nuclear power sources in outer space from terrestrial nuclear power sources.

With regard to the work of its Legal Subcommittee the report says the Committee agreed that the Principles Relevant to the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space would remain valid for the time being. The Scientific and Technical Subcommittee should consider the need for their revision in the light of changing technology before the Legal Subcommittee or the parent Committee undertook any actual revision. The item concerning nuclear power sources should be retained on the agenda of the Legal Subcommittee for discussion in plenary meetings.

On matters relating to the definition and delimitation of outer space and to the character and utilization of the geostationary orbit, the Committee noted that the Chairman of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States had expressed the view that those issues are of particular interest to those States and should continue to be considered by the Committee and the Legal Subcommittee until they have been resolved to the satisfaction of all States. The working paper submitted by Colombia to the Legal Subcommittee's 1996 session could serve as the basis for further progress in this area.

According to the report, some Legal Subcommittee members reiterated that the geostationary orbit, because of its particular characteristics, required a special, sui generis legal regime to regulate access and utilization by all States, taking into account the needs of developing countries. The view was also expressed that the needs of equatorial countries should be taken into account in that regard.Other members held the view that, because the geostationary orbit was an integral part of outer space, the legal regime established by the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and other Celestial Bodies, adequately covered the geostationary orbit. The Committee recommended that the Legal Subcommittee continue its consideration of the issue at its session in 2000.

The Committee noted that the Legal Subcommittee had continued its review of the status of the five international legal instruments governing outer space, with a view to promoting greater adherence to them.

Regarding the future agenda of the Subcommittee, the report cites the view of some members that its work should be revitalized, including the development of additional agenda items. It was also suggested, however, that the Subcommittee focus on making a useful contribution to meeting the interests of all States, rather than simply generating new legal standards regulating space-related activity.

It was suggested that, as the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee had finalized its technical report on space debris, it was appropriate for the Legal Subcommittee to consider including in its agenda an item entitled "Review of existing norms of international law applicable to space debris", as proposed by the Czech Republic.

The Fourth Committee also had before it the report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III), (document A/CONF.184/6).

That report contains three resolutions adopted by UNISPACE III. By the terms of the first, entitled "The Space Millennium: Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development", the General Assembly would declare the nucleus of a strategy to address global challenges as follows: protecting the Earth's environment and managing its resources; using space applications for human security, development and welfare; advancing scientific knowledge of space and protecting the space environment; enhancing education and training opportunities and ensuring public awareness of the importance space activities; strengthening and repositioning of space activities in the United Nations system; and promoting international cooperation.

Also by the Vienna Declaration, the Assembly would emphasize that the shared objective of sustainable development for all countries will require timely and effective action to achieve the stated goals and that such an endeavour will provide ample scope for space science and technology to play their proper role as major contributors to people's well-being. It would decide to declare "World Space Week" between 4 and 10 October as a yearly celebration at the international level of the contribution that space science and technology can make to the betterment of the human condition.

The second resolution, would have the Assembly request the Government of Austria to thank the city of Vienna and the people of Austria for their hospitality to UNISPACE participants. By the third draft the Assembly would approve the report of the Conference's Credentials Committee.

Also before the Committee was a letter (document A/C.4/54/8) Georgia, transmitting an information note from that country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on new developments in the field of telecommunications.

Statements

SOTIRIOS ZACKHEOS (Cyprus), Chairman of the fourth Committee, said that of all the important and challenging topics of the United Nations, none quite captured the imagination like outer space. The application of space science and technology contributed to improving daily life in many ways. Satellites permitted communications around the world and brought television images across continents. Remote-sensing satellites provided tools to better manage land and ocean resources, and meteorological satellites allowed better weather forecasting and climate change predictions. Together with communications satellites, those satellites also provided early warnings for natural disasters, allowing for action to be taken to mitigate their adverse effects.

International cooperation was essential to make the benefits of space science and technology available to all people, he said. The international community had once been deeply concerned that outer space might become a source of conflicts. Through the work of the Outer Space Committee, the Organization continued to ensure that outer space was a source of cooperation.

He said it had been recognized early on that outer space was a common heritage, too important to be used by just a few countries. The United Nations had established a legal regime, comprising five international treaties and five sets of international legal principles governing space activities, reflecting the collective will of Member States to carry out space activities for peaceful purposes and for the benefit and in the interest of all countries. The world must now build on that success, meeting the challenges arising from the rapid development in space activities. The potential for sustainable development through space applications had not yet been fully utilized in many developing countries, where the tools provided by space science and technology were most needed.

U.R. RAO (India), Chairman of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, introduced that body’s report as well as that of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III). He said that the Conference’s historic Vienna Declaration, adopted by consensus, reflected the commitment of all participants to take action to integrate advances in space science and technology in the agenda for the establishment of a truly equitable global village.

He said that despite spectacular developments in space science and technology, which could be a most powerful tool for transforming the lifestyle of the planet, there was a growing disparity between the quality of life of the rich and that of the poor. Developing countries, carrying more than three-quarters of the global population, accounted for just 20 per cent of energy consumption and contributed to less than 16 per cent of the global gross domestic product. More than a quarter if the 4.5 billion people in developing countries still did not have access to some of life’s most basic necessities. Economic globalization in the technologically advanced world had resulted in further marginalization of countries with scarce resources.

Ensuring sustainable development was not only a key solution for continued economic growth and development, but also crucial for maintaining peace and security in many parts of the world, he said. The important role of space science and technology in that regard could not be overemphasized. With the use of space science and technology, humanity could face the challenge of harmonizing the developmental process to meet the minimal needs of the people, to ensure food, economic and health security and to provide education opportunities to all, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

ALFONSO VALDIVIESO (Colombia) expressed satisfaction with the UNISPACE report. His country had actively participated in the Conference, which had been fruitful. At the Conference, Columbia had stressed the need for global participation in order to achieve real benefits for all countries, particularly the developing ones. The usefulness of outer space applications in such important areas as prevention of natural disasters was indisputable.

Viable projects should be developed to fulfil the goals of the Conference, he said. In that work, the needs of the developing countries should be taken into consideration and everybody should take part. Last year, in Chile, proposals had been made on the needs of the region. Existing technologies should be linked to the generation of new knowledge. Progress in outer space would allow to broaden possibilities for participation. Work should continue until it reached a conclusion satisfactory to all. The new century demanded the participation of all, and Colombia was committed to that goal.

JUKKA PIETIKAINEN (Finland), on behalf of the European Union and associated countries, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of UNISPACE III, noting that it had been convened as a special session of the Outer Space Committee, which had meant that it could be financed from within the existing resources of OOSA. It had been the first global conference of the United Nations with full participation of industry and civil society as partners of Governments. That reflected the increasing economic use of outer space and rapidly growing importance of private companies in that area. It also reflected the heightened interest of citizens in matters related to outer space. Involvement of private and commercial enterprises in the Conference's Technical Forum reflected the fact that industry was playing a key role in the development of space technology and its applications. The Conference had been a useful experience, which had furthered the objective of deeper interaction among Governments, the United Nations and civil society. The most important outcome of the Conference -- the Declaration on Space and Human Development -- offered a framework for cooperation to utilize space technology as a tool for sustainable development, he continued. A follow-up process had been agreed upon. International space activity was in the process of change, and more and more practical applications for commercial markets were being developed. The list of space innovations was impressive, including environmental management, natural resource monitoring, land-cover mapping, meteorology, hydrology, satellite communications, tele-medicine, tele-education, navigation and natural disaster management, to mention a few.

Europe was a major actor in space activities, he said. Important programmes had been implemented by European States and the European Space Agency, ranging from identification to management of major risks. The European Union also played a part in space activities. It welcomed the Vienna Declaration, which, if implemented properly, could contribute significantly to narrowing the gap between developed and developing nations. It provided nations with a comprehensive list of priorities for action. The primary aim was to help the developing countries to benefit from space technology. He called on multilateral financial institutions and States to facilitate the implementation of those recommendations. The private sector was also a potential partner in future activities; its participation in relevant projects should be encouraged.

The Union noted with satisfaction the report of the Outer Space Committee, he went on. It supported the reform efforts undertaken by the Committee in the recent past and welcomed the agreement on the restructuring of the agendas of its two subcommittees.

SHINGO MIYAMOTO (Japan), welcoming the positive developments made by the Outer Space Committee and UNISPACE III, said that the convening of the latter was a landmark achievement, with participation not only of Governments, but also of the private sector. Japan was especially happy that international cooperation on earth observation had been discussed extensively, with a view to addressing global environmental problems while responding to the needs of both developed and developing countries.

He said his Government’s basic policy for peaceful space development was: to promote creative scientific research from a long-term perspective; to strive to meet social needs by applying the results of space development to wider areas of society; and to undertake cost-effective space activities. Japan actively pursued international space cooperation. It placed continued emphasis on unmanned systems, with a view to enhance their reliability and sophistication, while continuing to contribute to manned systems within the framework of international cooperation. Japan also aimed to develop its space-related industries in a coordinated manner; and to preserve the environment in space by addressing the issue of space debris.

In accordance with those policies, he said, Japan had launched 62 satellites to date, and had undertaken various space activities, including earth observations and space experiments, including six successful manned space flights. Through those activities, Japan had been able to make significant contributions to the knowledge and well-being of humankind as a whole.

RI YONG IL (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) said that the holding of UNISPACE III had been a significant occasion. However, the efforts of developing countries to participate in the peaceful use of outer space were facing serious constraints. Some forces were questioning and making an issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea’s launching of an artificial missile. The monopoly of space activities by a few countries was among the causes of stagnation and debt accumulation affecting the developing countries.

He said the ability of all countries to explore and make use of space must be ensured. Space was the world’s common heritage and its exploration was the right of all countries, large or small. The more all countries could make use of outer space exploration, the more they would all move forward. But the more restricted poor countries were, the more marginalized they would become.

Countries carrying out space activities should ensure that the relevant technologies were available to all, instead of monopolizing and trading in them commercially. Member States should act to ban the militarization of outer space. At present there were not only satellites for economic purposes, but also satellites with military uses that threatened the sovereignty of some countries. The Legal Subcommittee would have to pay greater attention to codifying provisions against the militarization of outer space.

VIJAY TIWATHIA (India) expressed satisfaction with the outcome of UNISPACE III and the Vienna Declaration, which outlined strategies to address global challenges. Action programmes developed at the Conference should be given priority. It was necessary to establish a special voluntary fund to implement the recommendations of the Conference as envisaged in the Declaration. He urged relevant international organizations to support the implementation of those recommendations. India expected the Outer Space Committee to develop a work plan to promote and accelerate the implementation process.

Continuing, he emphasized the need to maintain an environment conducive to the exploration of outer space. It should be open for peaceful use by all countries. In the past, India had expressed concern over the growing risks posed by debris to both spacecraft and humans in outer space. It had worked with the international community in the study of that problem. The Indian Space Research Organization actively participated in the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee. India had also participated in the work of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and noted with satisfaction its technical report on space debris, which must be widely disseminated.

He said space technology had an important role to play in accelerating socio- economic development in all countries, particularly in developing nations. The Indian space programme emphasized applications to benefit society as a whole. While pursuing its national space programme, India also continued to emphasize international cooperation. The United Nations-affiliated center for Space Science and Technology Education for Asia and the Pacific was continuing to make good progress.

In order to address the concerns of developing societies in the use of outer space, a balance between commercialism and larger priorities should be maintained, he said. The results of UNISPACE III should be used as a springboard to enhance global cooperation in that area.

FAWZI A. SHOBOKSHI (Saudi Arabia) said the exploration of outer space had a growing global impact. His country welcomed the positive trends in the peaceful use of outer space. Despite recent cuts, programmes aimed at the military use of space still represented a source of concern to his country. In the past, efforts had been made to define the use and exploitation of outer space. Within the framework of those efforts, his country had sent a cosmonaut into outer space several years before. It had also participated in UNISPACE III this year.

Against that backdrop, he underlined the importance of work for peaceful use of outer space and encouraged dissemination of information in that field. He also stressed the need for adequate evaluation of such information. In that respect, he welcomed the efforts of the Outer Space Committee. The expansion of the role of developing countries should be encouraged, as well as the holding of workshops and seminars. The Committee should expand and deepen cooperation among all countries in the sphere of outer space.

GAO FENG (China) said his Government would continue encouraging and supporting the development of space science and technology. In applying the technology, its emphasis would be on inexpensive, non-toxic, non-polluting, highly reliable large- sized carrier rockets, public-use platform technology for large capacity geostationary satellites and large capacity communication satellites. China hoped gradually to establish a system of resource satellites that could meet the needs of the national economy and operate reliably over long periods. China would continue to strengthen the research and development of spacecraft propulsion technology and monitoring and controlling technology. It would also research and develop manned space flight, hoping to make it a reality early in the next century.

He said that all nations enjoyed equal rights in freely exploring and using outer space. The outer space of all nations should promote the friendly cooperation and social progress of all peoples, contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security and the survival and development of humankind. China opposed a space monopoly or the militarization of outer space. It favoured the increasing and strengthening of international cooperation in outer space on the basis of peaceful use, equality and mutual benefit, learning from each other, and common development. China attached importance to its cooperation with developed, as well as developing space powers.

MICHEL SCHAFFHAUSER (France), associating himself with the statement of the European Union, said that the report of UNISPACE III was a good base for the future work of the Committee on Outer Space. Implementation of the recommendations contained in that report was a long-term project for those countries facing development problems. It was also the task of technologically advanced countries to respond to the needs expressed during UNISPACE III and for institutions to provide the resources for the financing of development projects, taking into account the priorities underlined during the Conference.

He said that the planet was constantly threatened by floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, forest fires and tropical storms, as well as human-made disasters. Satellites could provide information on such catastrophes as they developed, supplementing information received from other systems. It was for that reason that the European Space Agency and the National Centre for Space Studies had announced last July a closer coordination of their space systems and signed a charter whose aim was to place their satellites at the disposal of those needing them.

VASSILIS G. CASSAPOGLOU, (Greece), fully endorsed the statement by Finland on behalf of the European Union. However, he was taking the floor as Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Network of Space Science and Technology Education and Research Institutions of Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe. Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey and Greece belonged to that network. Two days before, there had been a session in Sofia, Bulgaria, on making the Network operational, he said. He asked for more support from the United Nations for that initiative, which could play an important part in the dissemination of space science and technology in the region. He also wanted to endorse the statement by France, particularly on combatting natural disasters.

He urged Governments to sign and ratify the Convention on Emergency Telecommunications of 1998, which was an important instrument to mitigate the effects of natural and man-made disasters. In conclusion, he voiced appreciation for the outcome of UNISPACE III.

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