GAP BETWEEN RAPID OUTER SPACE ADVANCES, NEEDS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES STRESSED BY SPEAKERS IN FOURTH COMMITTEE DEBATE

Press Release
GA/SPD/169

GAP BETWEEN RAPID OUTER SPACE ADVANCES, NEEDS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES STRESSED BY SPEAKERS IN FOURTH COMMITTEE DEBATE

Despite breathtaking advances and discoveries in outer space, the developing countries could hardly meet their immediate needs, much less their aspirations and expectations, the representative of Indonesia said this morning, as the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) continued its debate on international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.

For that reason, he attached paramount importance to the role of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, which should translate international cooperation into meaningful programmes on the regional, subregional and national levels.

Several speakers stressed that the Outer Space Committee’s unique role in offering the international community a forum exclusively focused on promoting the benefits of space exploration. The representative of Cuba, for example, called for the strengthening of its Technical and Legal Subcommittees and defended the developing countries’ legitimate interest in expanding the Committee’s membership. He said that the practice of sharing the rotating posts should be suppressed and all members subject to rotation should become members of the Committee with full rights.

The representative of the Russian Federation said that the growing number of participants in space activities and the commercialization of those activities required the development of equal, fair and mutually beneficial cooperation in space. The outcome of the Third United Nations Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III) had contributed to that end. It was necessary to modernize existing international space law to ensure a balance between commercial objectives and protection of the space environment. Bilateral and regional practices in outer space cooperation should be reviewed and placed on a solid basis.

The representative of the United States praised the organization of UNISPACE III, saying it should serve as a model for other such conferences in the future. The event had produced recommendations and conclusions that supported the overall objectives, including

Fourth Committee - 1a - Press Release GA/SPD/169 15th Meeting (AM) 27 October 1999

identification of new areas and support for existing mechanisms of international cooperation.

Also speaking in today’s debate were the representatives of Egypt, Romania, Libya, Chile (on behalf of MERCOSUR and associated countries), Syria, Malaysia and Yemen.

The Fourth Committee will conclude its consideration of outer space issues at a date to be announced.

Committee Work Programme

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) met this morning to continue its general debate on international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.

Before the Committee were the report of the Committee on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (document A/54/20) and the report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III) (document A/CONF.184/6).

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

Statements

RAFAEL DAUSA CESPEDES (Cuba) noted the intensified work of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space this year and said that the outer space was common heritage for all humankind to share. He stressed the need to preserve outer space for peaceful purposes and to promote international cooperation, taking into account the imperative of achieving sustainable development of all countries, in particular the developing ones. It was necessary to bridge the enormous gap dividing the vast majority of developing and industrialized countries in outer space. It was also very important to prevent an arms race in space. As a member of the Conference on Disarmament, Cuba would continue to work together with the Members of the Non- Aligned Movement and others to prevent the use of outer space for non-peaceful purposes.

The Committee and the Technical and Legal Subcommittees should be strengthened, he continued. He defended the developing countries’ legitimate interest in expanding the Committee’s membership and reiterated his support to the idea of suppressing the practice of sharing the rotating posts. All members subject to rotation should become members of the Committee with full rights. Turning to the issue of space debris, he said that more attention should be paid to the collisions of space objects, in particular those with nuclear power sources. An important aspect to be debated was the question of how to minimize the potential consequences of collisions and how to hold accountable those who had generated them. It was necessary to continue work to define and delimit the geostationary orbit. The legal regime governing that issue must facilitate its use by all States, taking into account, above all, the needs of the developing countries.

He noted with concern some trends to revise the principles that had governed the use of nuclear power in outer space, disregarding the concerns of all countries, particularly the developing ones. Those exercises could imply danger to humankind. The UNISPACE III was undoubtedly an important step forward, and its documents had high value for future work. His country, which had sent the first Latin American to outer space, placed great relevance on strengthening regional cooperation with the objective of developing space research.

WALID A. HAGGAG (Egypt) said the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space was the only body devoted to international cooperation in that field. Five important treaties had been concluded and important international legal principles had been formulated due to the efforts of the Committee. The UNISPACE III and adoption of The Declaration on Space and Human Development were important steps forward. Egypt hoped that all the States would make necessary measures to implement the outcome of the Conference. His delegation reconfirmed the importance of expanding the scope of applications and uses of space technology in outer space for the developing countries and supported the establishment of a voluntary fund for that purpose. He also looked forward to the continuation of the work of the Committee to promote the capabilities of the developing countries and collecting data on various aspects of space exploration.

Recently, Egypt had established a council on space technology and sciences to promote and develop a national programme focusing on peaceful applications in outer space, he said. Satellite technology was important for the study of desert areas. Egypt was building national institutions, making use of international cooperation for the development of its space programme. Many achievements had been made recently in that field, including the launching of an Egyptian satellite in April 1998. Egypt planned to build a land station to receive images from satellites. It was also designing a pioneering satellite in cooperation with other countries. Use of space should be limited to peaceful purposes, and the Committee should continue its work to regulate such use.

SADEWO JOEDO (Indonesia) underscored the need for cooperative research, training and technological development. While rapid advances and discoveries were being made at a breathtaking pace, the developing countries could hardly meet their immediate needs, much less their aspirations and expectations. For that reason, Indonesia attached paramount importance to the role of the Outer Space Committee in translating international cooperation into meaningful programmes on the regional, subregional and national levels.

He said Indonesia had noted the retention on the agenda of the Legal Subcommittee of the question of reviewing the principles relevant to the use of nuclear power sources in outer space. That question had been of concern to the international community, which was duty-bound to accord attention to the pertinent legal principles and the need to revise them in the light of technological advances.

Indonesia’s position with regarding to the geostationary orbit was well known, he said. As a developing equatorial country, Indonesia had consistently attached significant importance to that question. The geostationary orbit was a limited natural resource which should be used in a rational and equitable manner. Assured access to the geostationary orbit, now and in the future, should be guaranteed. In that regard, Indonesia affirmed the need for the establishment of a sui generis legal regime.

ALEXANDRINA RUSU (Romania), associating herself with the statement made by Finland, said that documents adopted by UNISPACE III contained a blueprint for the peaceful uses of outer space in the twenty-first century. The Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development and its related Action Plan were the result of a fruitful consultation process between the decision-makers and international experts, made with a view to identifying ways in which space technology developments could be used to the benefit of mankind as a whole.

She said that the regional preparatory conference for Central and Eastern Europe, held in Bucharest last January, had enabled participating States to identify -– taking into account the objectives of UNISPACE III -- issues of priority and specific interest to that region. The participation of Romanian researchers and scientists in international action towards deepening knowledge of outer space and its practical application had been noteworthy. A number of scientific instruments and devices developed by those researchers were in orbit.

Romania attached great importance to regional and international cooperation aimed at promoting dialogue and development, she said. Romania welcomed the cooperation agreement concluded this month between the European Space Agency and the Romanian Government, as well as the signing in Sofia, at the end of October, of a regional cooperation agreement between Hungary, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Greece, Poland, Slovakia, Turkey and Romania. Romania also looked forward to the finalization of the negotiating process of a cooperation agreement between regional governments and the United States National Aeronautic and Space Administration. Romania also saluted progress achieved in establishing regional centres for space science and technology in Asia and the Pacific, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

AHMED RAYAMI (Libya) said the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space emphasized international cooperation in the exploration of outer space, which was not the exclusive property of any one State. His country was sincerely interested in the peaceful use of outer space in such areas as fighting desertification and weather prediction. He welcomed the outcome of UNISPACE III, in which his country had participated. Libya was interested in establishing a national centre for space research. It was also willing to participate in regional and international efforts in that respect. He called for a reduction of military space activities and supported the proposal for setting up of an international voluntary fund for the implementation of the recommendations of the Conference.

His country hoped that the developing countries would receive the necessary assistance to benefit in the area of space use, he continued. He also emphasized the importance of curbing the arms race in space. There could be cooperation in that area between the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and the Committee on Disarmament. Certain activities on the international level were a danger for the developing countries, and Libya was interested in the action plan for peaceful use of space.

KENNETH HODGIKINS (United States) said that since last year’s session, the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space had recorded a number of significant achievements in promoting international space cooperation. It remained the only standing body of the General Assembly devoted to that purpose. Whereas other United Nations organs, including the First Committee, held competence to consider the military uses of outer space, the Outer Space Committee offered the international community a forum focused exclusively on promoting the benefits from space exploration.

Like the Outer Space Committee, the American space programme had been borne at the height of the cold war, he continued. Now, however, his country saw space activities primarily as an instrument of human advancement and international cooperation. He congratulated the staff of the Office of Outer Space Affairs on the successful organization of UNISPACE III, which was viewed within the United Nations system as an innovative method to deal with issues of global concern. It should serve as a model for other such conferences in the future. He was also pleased with the scope of the topics considered at the Conference and the level of international involvement in its work. He was pleased that the event had produced recommendations and conclusions that supported the overall objectives, which included: identification of new areas and support for existing mechanisms of international cooperation; dissemination of information on space research and strategies for developing countries; improved coordination among United Nations organizations involved in space activities; and promotion of civil and commercial applications and use of outer space.

Concerning the future work of the Outer Space Committee and its subcommittees, he said that his delegation was pleased with the progress made on restructuring their agendas and new approaches to considering agenda items. The new methods of work would permit each Committee member to report on topics of long- standing interest. They would also allow new topics to be introduced as agreed among Member States. That was a significant step forward in ensuring that the work of Outer Space Committee kept pace with the rapid developments in space exploration.

RAIMUNDO GONZALEZ (Chile), speaking on behalf of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) countries and Bolivia, said the issue of outer space had taken on a dizzying dynamism. Conferences in Latin America had generated broad cooperation among the countries of that region, especially in the technical and academic spheres.

He said information was central in the determination of matters that were crucial for humankind. It was impossible to conceive of ways to protect the environment without information from satellites. In the framework of international cooperation, there was a great need to assist developing States in the fields of research, literacy, rural education and improvement of satellite-related infrastructure. Information and education were the main resources in overcoming structural deficiencies, and the function of satellites was particularly important.

Space technology was one of the most relevant of the tools for fighting poverty and other scourges of the developing world, he said. International cooperation was a key factor in providing more equitable access to that technology. Many countries possessed enormous amounts of data, but their capacity to process it was poor. The international community must continue to ensure that space technology was used as a tool to resolve people’s problems, including the natural disasters that were a matter of daily concern to the people of Latin America and the Caribbean. Disaster mitigation measures should be used to limit the devastation that had occurred in that region.

MOHAMAD WAEL DEIRKI (Syria), welcomed the reduction in expenditure for military purposes in outer space and the greater attention paid to the more important health, environmental and other problems facing the world. However, Syria still viewed with concern activities that ran counter to the peaceful uses of outer space. The fact that a Syrian astronaut had participated in a space mission some years ago underscored the country’s commitment to involvement in the outer space field.

Sustaining outer space for peaceful purposes required a clear commitment to that goal, he said. There should be a ban on the use of space for military aims and on any arms race in outer space. To that end, it would be useful if the Conference on Disarmament and the Outer Space Committee coordinated their activities and if major Powers possessing immense space potential shouldered more responsibilities.

He said the question of space debris must be addressed more seriously to avoid collisions, especially between space debris and nuclear-powered space vehicles or those carrying nuclear material. States with nuclear-powered satellites were duty-bound to provide sufficient information about those vehicles and about measures to prevent collisions and other accidents.

KAMAL YAN YAHAYA (Malaysia) said that UNISPACE III had been a historic achievement. For the first time, governments, intergovernmental and non- governmental organizations had worked towards a common goal. That reflected the increasing economic use of outer space and the rapidly growing importance of private companies in that area. The Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development was a positive contribution towards the development of space science and technology for peaceful purposes and the enhancing of international cooperation in outer space. He was pleased that the promotion of international cooperation on earth observation activities had been extensively discussed with a view to addressing global environmental problems, while responding to the needs of both developed and developing countries. Immediate action should be taken to establish a special United Nations voluntary fund to implement the recommendations of the Conference. Malaysia welcomed the decision to proclaim a World Space Week from 4 to 10 October as a yearly celebration at the international level.

The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space had contributed substantially to the promotion of international cooperation, he continued. All Member States, including Malaysia, benefited from the promotion of the peaceful uses of outer space. The uses of outer space for the purposes of communications and data transmission were of particular interest. The Committee had a significant role to play in the future, and it was imperative that Member States support the Committee in carrying out its tasks. That could be achieved through further development of international space law and strengthening international cooperation for peaceful exploration and use of outer space.

Malaysia had launched two telecommunications satellites, he continued. It had also built its first micro-satellite, TiungSAT-1, in collaboration with the Untied Kingdom. That satellite launch had been much delayed due to the unavailability of affordable launch opportunities for small satellites and uncertainties in rocket launches. Expensive launches would negate their affordability and limit the number of countries that would develop and advance small satellite technology. Malaysia was committed to the research and development of small satellites. The design of a second micro-satellite was underway.

ABDULAZIZ BAISSA (Yemen) said that certain issues seemed inaccessible for the developing and especially the least developed countries, whose main focus was on elementary development needs. However, his Government realized that those countries ran the risk of lagging behind and remaining mere onlookers at a time of technological advance and change. Hence, the importance of the United Nations, which should help bridge that gap and promote multilateral efforts. The Organization expressed the will of different States and represented their interests. In view of the negative implications of space militarization, it was necessary to focus on the positive side the peaceful uses of space.

Assistance to the developing countries should enable them to participate in outer space activities and make use of technological developments, he said. He stressed the importance of international conferences and seminars in that respect, for they enabled the developing countries to have access to the latest achievements. He welcomed the success of UNISPACE III, saying that, in general, the Conference had taken into consideration the needs of the developing countries. Outer space was a common heritage of humankind, which presented great opportunities. Participation of civil society and future scientists in the work of the Conference was noteworthy. International cooperation was needed to create the necessary machinery for the implementation of the outcome of the Conference. Its recommendations should be followed both regionally and internationally. Outer space constituted one of the means to achieve the collective goals of the international community. Coordination of educational programmes and dissemination of information should be promoted.

VLADIMIR TARABRIN (Russian Federation) said his country’s activities in outer space were in the interest of science and of Russia’s economy. Among the priority tasks were implementation of international agreements on international cooperation, including one on the creation of an international space station, providing global links for the entire Russian territory, and monitoring of emergencies and the environment.

He said the Russian Federation had acquired enormous experience in manned space flight. Within the framework of international cooperation, it had participated in joint space programmes with Germany, France and the United States. The carrying of foreign loads by Russian rockets was a growing activity. One of the most vivid examples of international cooperation was the completion of a unique sea-launch site.

The Russian Federation was formulating the necessary legal prerequisites for taking advantage of the latest technical developments in space exploration, he said. The growing number of participants in space activities and their wide commercialization strengthened the need for the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space to make those activities more universal. In that light, the outcome of UNISPACE III was of particular importance, for it contributed to the development of equal, fair and mutually beneficial cooperation in outer space.

Regarding the rapid development of commercial activities in space, he said the existing United Nations institutions within the field of international space law must be modernized in order to ensure a balance between commercial objectives and the need to prevent damage to the space environment. Bilateral and regional practices in outer space cooperation should be summarized and placed on a solid base. That was one of the priorities before the United Nations and the Outer space Committee.

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