Do Not Let Political Differences Distract You, General Assembly President Urges Member States, as Fourth Committee Continues Outer Space Debate
Russian Federation Delegate Stresses Cooperation, Saying Some States Prefer Unilateral Action in Regulation of Space Activities
Member States must avoid allowing political differences to distract them from their responsibilities, the President of the General Assembly told the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) today, as it continued its general debate on international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.
Recalling that the Committee had heard 116 petitioners from Non‑Self‑Governing Territories tell their stories, Assembly President Miroslav Lajčák (Slovakia) emphasized that a political impasse did not change the needs of such people on the ground. States must find a way to work together, even where there was disagreement over a Territory’s status. The Committee had adopted a preventive stance in addressing the peaceful use of outer space, he observed.
The Russian Federation’s representative also highlighted the significance of cooperation, underlining in particular the utmost importance of completing guidelines for the long‑term sustainability of outer space activities on favourable terms. The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space “simply cannot afford to yield negligible results”, he stressed.
Turning to cooperation in the management of space traffic, he said that a truly international regime in that area would create a system of interactions among all sovereign States, not just a few. However, some States seemed to place a premium on unilateralism in the regulation of outer space activities, which led to their tampering with the meanings originally attached to the basic notion of “national non‑appropriation of outer space and celestial bodies”.
Echoing that sentiment, Cuba’s representative emphasized that the use of space‑related technologies should not be appropriated by the “elitist” States or by private entities, because they provided the possibility of assistance for developing countries. Calling for the transfer of science and related knowledge without discrimination, he said that his country had made important advances in the peaceful use of outer space, including the prediction of natural disasters, despite the blockade imposed on Cuba by the United States.
Other delegates underscored the importance of space activities in monitoring and mitigating the effects of climate change. El Salvador’s representative described his country as especially environmentally vulnerable and thus very interested in how space activities could help in managing natural disasters, environmental protection, telemedicine and tele‑education.
Similarly, Saudi Arabia’s representative highlighted climate change effects, saying that the kingdom had been affected by floods and snow. In such situations, early warnings had been issued via space media, which provided the entities concerned with space imaging to assist rescue efforts and the evacuation of crisis sites, he said.
Also speaking today were representatives of Canada, Chile, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, Egypt, Syria, Iran, Algeria, Iraq, Mauritania, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Singapore and Ukraine.
A representative of the Department of Public Information also addressed the Committee.
The Fourth Committee will reconvene at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 17 October, to continue its discussions on international cooperation in outer space, and to take action on draft resolutions.
Opening Remarks
MIROSLAV LAJČÁK (Slovakia), President of the General Assembly, said the Fourth Committee’s work must reflect present realities, noting that the world had looked very different at the time of drafting the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. Regrettably, the reality it envisaged did not yet exist. That situation must be resolved while ensuring that discussions in the Committee reflected reality on the ground for the peoples of the Non‑Self‑Governing Territories, he emphasized.
Mine action was another such issue because many landmines had been planted during conflicts that had long been over. He also urged States not to overlook questions relating to information, and to ensure that discussions were guided by up‑to‑date information on the ground. He went on to urge the Committee to adopt a proactive stance on preventing conflicts and human suffering. The Fourth Committee had adopted a preventive stance in addressing the peaceful use of outer space, which reflected the importance of various administrative bodies, he observed.
Turning to peacekeeping and special political missions, he urged the Committee to ensure that United Nations overseas deployments contributed to the avoidance of recurring conflict and to sustaining peace. In conclusion, he called upon Member States to avoid allowing political differences to distract them from their responsibilities, recalling that 116 petitioners had addressed the Committee and told their stories. A political impasse did not change the needs of such people on the ground, he emphasized, pointing out that even where there was disagreement over a Territory’s status, States must find a way to work together.
HAK-FAN LAU, Department of Public Information, expressed regret and apologized to the Committee Chair for the error appearing in the press release issued on 5 October, which mistakenly attributed the statement of Hammada El Baihi to Ahmed Boukhari. That error had occurred because of the large number of petitioners and other challenges, he said, explaining that the Department had become aware of the error on the following day and immediately corrected both the French language and English language releases. The Department had also reinforced its editorial supervision to ensure that such errors did not recur, he said, stressing that the Department took the releases seriously and had always regarded accuracy as paramount. He went on to thank delegates and the Chair for their understanding and continued support.
RAFAEL DARÍO RAMÍREZ CARREÑO (Venezuela), Committee Chair, expressed support for the Department’s work, and said that any such error could turn into a political issue. He expressed appreciation for the Department’s apology, saying he trusted that delegations also appreciated it.
The Committee Chair then referred to a proposed draft decision on the election of officers nominated to the Bureau of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space for the period 2018‑19 (document A/C.4/72/L.8). Several delegations had requested that the Fourth Committee approve that text, which was unusual, he said, adding that it was inappropriate for that Committee to deal with the directive board of a subsidiary body such as the Outer Space Committee.
Some delegates agreed, saying that regional groups in Vienna should resolve the matter.
Others responded by emphasizing that the Fourth Committee was not being asked to elect candidates, but simply to respect nominations by regional groups in order to facilitate the smooth functioning of the Outer Space Committee, which could not function without a Bureau. They called for a vote in the Fourth Committee on the text at hand.
When called upon to clarify the required procedure, a Secretariat official emphasized that it was for Member States to decide whether or not to take action on the draft decision during the meeting.
Several speakers then raised objections to consideration of the draft during the meeting, stressing that it should be considered on 17 October because that was the date originally slated for a vote in the Committee’s unanimously agreed programme of work. They noted that some delegations might still be studying the document or awaiting instructions from their capitals.
The Committee Chair then called for consideration of the draft decision on 17 October, as reflected in the programme of work.
General Debate
FAIYAZ MURSHID KAZI (Bangladesh) emphasized the importance of consensus within the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, calling also for a robust international legal regime to govern outer space activities and ensure shared benefits for all. Potential space science contributions would be vital to realizing the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, he said, adding that his country continually reaped the benefits of space activities in a region plagued by natural disasters. Poised to launch its own satellite by the end of 2017, Bangladesh would, with proper coordination, be able to provide important data to all Asian States, he said, adding that his country looked forward to cooperation with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. Bangladesh supported the prevention of an arms race in space and supported a legally binding instrument to ensure that objective, he said, underlining also the shared responsibility to monitor space debris and prevent collisions.
ABDULLAHI TUKUR ABDULLAHI (Nigeria) said that outer space technologies were of immense interest because they drove innovation and science, fostered the management of natural resources, provided for monitoring of the oceans and climate, and helped to alleviate poverty. They were also crucial to realizing the goals of the 2030 Agenda. He commended the activities of UNISPACE+50 and the critical work of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in fostering international cooperation for the benefit of the global population. The Outer Space Committee played a fundamental role in building confidence and ensuring that outer space remained peaceful, adding that Nigeria also supported the activities of UN‑SPIDER. He welcomed measures by developed nations to promote the benefits of space activities in developing countries, saying his country encouraged the hosting of regional space‑related workshops and exchange programmes.
FAHAD S. S. ALHARBI (Saudi Arabia) said the kingdom had an ambitious national satellite programme to maximize the benefits of outer space towards the development of the region and the world at large. Saudi Arabia adhered to United Nations treaties and principles, with the aim of making the best use of space technologies while avoiding the potential danger of space armaments. The national science agency was active in the fields of remote sensing, agriculture, medical care and remote education, among other applications, he said, adding that facilitating access to outer space for all countries was an important principle in promoting international cooperation and enhancing living standards. Regarding climate change, he said the kingdom had been affected by floods and snow, and in such situations, early warnings had been issued via space media, with the entities concerned being provided with space imaging to assist rescue efforts and the evacuation of crisis sites. He urged all States and intergovernmental organizations to help limit space debris without obstructing the space capabilities of developing countries.
LIM TONG HAI (Singapore) said there was a growing reliance on space for essential services, noting that more than 6,000 satellites were currently in orbit and that the technology was becoming more sophisticated. In view of that, the international community must address the problem of space debris, ensure that outer space remained a peaceful global common, build consensus on international norms in space and update existing treaties on the uses of outer space in order to keep pace with advances in technology. Small States could play an important role in promoting the peaceful uses of outer space, he said, noting that technological advances were allowing nascent players into the space domain. Singapore had partnered with such regional partners as China, Japan and India on urban planning and space‑enabled services and had participated in regional and international space forums like the 2015 Regional Forum of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
RAIMUNDO GONZÁLEZ ANINAT (Chile), emphasizing that outer space should not be exploited by other actors, such as the private sector, noted that the Outer Space Treaty had weaknesses, including an insufficient link between articles I and IV. Considering recent advances in outer space technology, the Treaty should have open‑ended clauses that could include new elements and ensure the greater humanization of international law. During UNISPACE+50 in 2018, it would be important to focus on emerging international law, not only in outer space but in general, he said. That was because outer space activities should be undertaken in accordance with international law and a whole series of other norms that should also be taken into account.
MAXIM V. MUSIKHIN (Russian Federation) said the Outer Space Committee should keep pace with the pressing need to develop space activities by straightforward analysis of processes in that field. The completion, on favourable terms, of a framework on guidelines for the long‑term sustainability of outer space activities would be of utmost importance, he said, stressing that the Outer Space Committee “simply cannot afford to yield negligible results” on that matter. He described what his delegation had heard from colleagues during the most recent intersessional meeting of the Working Group on the Long‑Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities as a cause for disenchantment, saying there had been an unexpected change in mood on that issue. Many comments had “reset to zero” key elements of the earlier understanding on the courteous handling of important safety and security topics, which underlined the idea that international regulation of the safety aspects of space operations should be excluded from negotiations. If that happened, he warned, any guidelines created would be devoid of many essential provisions giving States the chance to develop a common system of ideas on the safety of space operations.
Expressing his delegation’s support for the establishment of a working group of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee on space objects and events, he said the Outer Space Committee had still failed to proceed with practical action to carry out an in‑depth review of the principles and norms of international law pertaining to the preservation of outer space for peaceful purposes. He urged States to evaluate, in a pragmatic manner, the Russian Federation initiative to have the Outer Space Committee consider peace, safety and security issues “from the perspective of different interpretations of the right of self‑defence in outer space”. States could use that discussion to define what constituted “dangerous practices” and “hostile intentions and actions” in outer space, considering that the presumption of such intentions alone could give certain States reason to resort to self‑defence, in accordance with their existing doctrines.
Cautioning the Outer Space Committee not to undertake any spontaneous or random mid‑term support for the regulation of space traffic management, he stressed that a truly international space traffic management regime would create a system of interactions among all sovereign States, not just a few. In pursuit of self‑interest, some States seemed to place a premium on unilateralism in regulating outer space activities, resulting in their tampering with the meanings originally attached to the basic notion of “national non‑appropriation of outer space and celestial bodies”. Concepts and policies of domination were being projected into different areas of international relations, he warned, adding that such an ideology could affect how States formed their space policies or reduce their ability to communicate effectively on issues relating to space security.
OLEKSIY ILNYTSKYI (Ukraine) said his delegation supported further strengthening of the Outer Space Committee’s role and enhanced coordination between Member States and the United Nations system in applying space science to realize the Sustainable Development Goals, which would not be achieved without international cooperation. Advances and changes in outer space over past years presented new challenges that were not being addressed directly by the current international regulatory regime. Ukraine called for a new comprehensive legally binding document that would combine the existing five outer space treaties with additional provisions and regulate outer space activities. Ukraine fostered international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space and had recently concluded important agreements with Poland, United States, India, China, Kazakhstan and other countries, he said.
HECTOR ENRIQUE JAIME CALDERÓN (El Salvador) said outer space activities presented opportunities to strengthen human capacity and promote sustainable development. Their potential benefits should be available to all countries, especially non‑spacefaring developing States. To that end, El Salvador encouraged spacefaring countries to share the benefits of their space activities. Expressing hope that the Outer Space Committee would continue to strengthen and promote especially universal access, non‑appropriation, the use of space for strictly peaceful purposes and international cooperation in the stewardship of outer space, he said his country was especially vulnerable environmentally and faced acute challenges in the face of climate change. The country was especially interested in how space activities could help in managing natural disasters, environmental protection, telemedicine and tele‑education. El Salvador welcomed such practical applications of UN‑SPIDER as enhanced drought indicators and flood mapping, he said.
HUMBERTO RIVERO ROSARIO (Cuba) reiterated that the militarization of outer space would pose a great threat to humankind, calling upon the international community to ensure that space technology was used to prevent and mitigate disasters and promote human health, among other aims. The Conference on Disarmament should play a pivotal role in negotiating a treaty on preventing the threat of militarization in outer space, he said, pointing out that the draft treaty presented by China and the Russian Federation would provide a sound basis for such negotiations. Cuba also welcomed the international exchange dealing with the geostationary orbit, which should be used rationally and economically so that States could have equitable access to those frequencies. The use of that technology should not be appropriated by the elitist States or by private entities, because it provided the possibility of assistance for developing countries, he emphasized. Calling for the transfer of science and related knowledge without discrimination, he observed that, despite the blockade imposed by the United States, Cuba had made important advances in the peaceful use of outer space, including the prediction of natural disasters.