Conference 7.286::space

From: [email protected] (Patt Haring)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: United Nations Press Releases
Date: 27 Mar 88 09:15:47 GMT
 
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                      Dorothy Nicklus      - NGO Rep
  
************************ UNITED NATIONS PRESS RELEASES ************************
FRIDAY    MARCH 25, 1988    
 
OS/1355     ----------------------------------    Issued: 24 March 1988 
OUTER SPACE SUB-COMMITTEE CONTINUES CONSIDERATION OF VARIOUS QUESTIONS
  
     GENEVA, 24 March ( UN Information Service) -- The Legal
Sub-Committee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
continued this morning its general exchange of views, hearing a
statement by the representative of Pakistan. 
 
     It then resumed consideration of matters relating to the
definition and delimitation of outer space and to the character and
utilization of the geostationary orbit.  The representatives of the
Soviet Union and the Federal Republic of Germany spoke on this item. 
 
     Views of Delegations 
 
     ASIF EZDI (Pakistan) said he was pleased to note that progress
had been achieved on such matters as draft principles dealing with
applicability of international law, notification of re-entry,
assistance to States, settlement of disputes and relation with
international treaties.  The definition and delimitation of outer
space and air space by agreeing on a boundary between them was highly
desirable, as two distinct regimes were applicable to the two
environments.  The geostationary orbit was an integral part of outer
space and a limited natural resource to which all States should have
an equitable access taking into account the special interests and
present limitations of the developing countries, he said. Suitable
orbital positions should be reserved for all those States which might
make requests, even when for the present they might not have the
resources to actually utilize them. 
 
     BORIS KHABIROV (Soviet Union) said the geostationary orbit, which
was clearly in outer space, was covered by the 1967 Outer Space
Treaty, including the provision that it was not subject to
appropriation nor proprietary rights.  Another important relevant
Convention in that regard was that of the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) which, among other things, stressed that
it was a limited natural resource and that it must be used rationally
and equitably.  However, it would be incorrect to assert that
questions relating to States' activities regarding the geostationary
orbit fell solely under the responsibility of ITU.  The Legal
Sub-Committee should address itself to the legal aspects relating to
the orbit.  All States had an equal right to use outer space without
prejudice to the rights of other  States. The German Democratic
Republic document on the orbit was very balanced and brought together
many of the useful proposals made here. 
 
     ERNST MARTENS (Federal Republic of Germany) said although the
Legal Sub-Committee had been considering the question of the
delimitation of outer space and the geostationary orbit since 1978,
not much progress had been achieved and this session showed that they
were far from reaching consensus.  His delegation did not consider the
lack of an agreed exact definition to have a negative effect on the
further development of space activities. Any exact delimitation would
involve an aspect of arbitrariness. It was also necessary to bear in
mind that its fixing at a very high altitude might unduly reduce that
truly international area. As for the geostationary orbit, the Outer
Space Treaty clearly stated that claims to certain positions on that
orbit based on State sovereignty devoid of legal foundation. 
Practical steps like the removal of no longer used space objects
should be considered. 
                                                       
Patt Haring                 {sun!hoptoad,cmcl2!phri}!dasys1!patth
Big Electric Cat Public Access Unix (212) 879-9031 - System Operator
 
    Three aspects of wisdom:  Intelligence, justice, and kindness.

Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Committee On Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
Date: 13 Jun 89 12:49:05 GMT
Reply-To: [email protected] (Patt Haring)
Organization: City College Of New York
 
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    COMMITTEE ON PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE
  
     The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space continued its
general exchange of views this morning, hearing 12 statements. 
 
     Many representatives spoke of the need to establish a legal
framework for the peaceful uses of outer space and the sharing of
space benefits with developing countries. 
 
     Statements were made by Nigeria, Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, 
Mongolia, Pakistan, Japan, France, Canada, the Netherlands, and Cuba. 
 
     The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. today to conclude its
general exchange of views and take up the issue of ways and means of
maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes. 
 
     Committee Work Programme
 
     The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space met this
morning to conclude its general exchange of views. 
 
     Statements
 
     JOHN OBAKPOLOR (Nigeria) said the 1982 United Nations Conference
on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE 82)
continued to sustain hope in the abundant potential of multilateral
co-operation.  The work of the Scientific and Technical Sub-Committee
attested to the conviction that, given the necessary political will,
the United Nations could play a decisive role in securing outer space
for peaceful purposes and for the benefit of all mankind. 
 
     New challenges had been posed by technological achievement, he
said.  The question of remote sensing of Earth by satellites and the
use of nuclear power sources in space represented significant
scientific progress in space exploration but were also issues capable
of producing dire consequences for the security and environmental
interests of many States if not correctly handled. 
 
     The questions of the delimination of outer space and the
utilization of the geostationary orbit were considerations of interest
to many States, as were their views about the type of activities being
undertaken by spy satellites and military-oriented spacecraft. 
Greater attention must be focused on those issues. 
 
     In order to maintain outer space for peaceful use, hostile
competition and the arms race in outer space must be eliminated as
obstacles to common objectives, and viable peaceful international
activities must be devised, broadened and vigorously pursued at
multilateral, regional and bilateral levels, he said.  Availability of
adequate resources for development assistance, especially to the
developing nations, and contributions to the Outer Space Affairs
Division, were vital ingredients to promote necessary technical
training programmes and educational opportunities which, among others,
could contribute to multilateral co-operation within the United Nations. 
 
     The question of remote sensing of Earth by satellites represented
an area where international co-operation could be enhanced, he said. 
By enabling developing countries to benefit directly and fully from
the use of remote-sensing technology through access to data reception
and products from remote sensing, international co-operation would
invariably replace the "current perception of opportunism and
remote-sensing brigandage" which commercialization of sensing
activities tended to imply on the part of the developed States. 
Sharing of technologies, experiences and information in that
connection would thus promote the goals and objectives of remote
sensing.  Nigeria was also interested in preventing radioactive
contamination of the human environment and outer space by space debris. 
 
     PAUL GRECU (Romania) said there was growing awareness in the
international community of the danger posed by the militarization of
outer space; every effort must be made to reverse that phenomenon. 
All States should contribute to the elimination of the nuclear-arms
race, particularly in outer space.  An important step towards that end
would be the conclusion of an international treaty on the use of outer
space exclusively for peaceful purposes, and an agreed legal framework
to regulate the problems relating to space vehicles, to protect the
environment and avoid accidents.  The Committee could play an
important role in that process. 
 
     He said the peaceful use of outer space should benefit all the
countries, particularly the developing countries.  Romania supported
establishment of a world space organization to foster co-operation in
practical fields and to assist developing countries in gaining access
to the scientific, technological and other applications resulting from
space studies.  The United Nations should promote co-operation among
States, provide experts, programmes and computer assistance to third
world countries, organize international scientific meetings and
encourage data and information exchange on scientific achievements and
their practical applications. 
 
     Regarding nuclear power sources in outer space, Romania supported
elaboration of an international legal instrument to increase security
in that area.  There was a need to establish a more precise definition
of security criteria and rules governing the use of such sources of
energy than were provided in International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
norms.  The establishment of an outer space delimitation line should
not prejudice the interests of States in connection with the
protection of their national air space.  The geostationary orbit
should be used more efficiently and equitably.
 
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Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Outer Space Committee Concludes General Exchange of Views
Date: 13 Jun 89 12:50:12 GMT
Reply-To: [email protected] (Patt Haring)
Organization: City College Of New York
 
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    OUTER SPACE COMMITTEE CONCLUDES GENERAL EXCHANGE OF VIEWS
 
        Begins Discussion of Ways to Maintain Outer Space for Peaceful
    Purposes; Hears Introduction of Report by UN Space Applications Expert
 
     The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space this afternoon
concluded its general exchange of views, hearing a statement by China
and by a representative of the European Space Agency. 
 
     The Committee then began a discussion on ways and means of
maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes, hearing a statement by
a representative of the Soviet Union, who repeated his Government's
proposal for the establishment of a world space organization to
oversee international activities in space development. 
 
     The Committee also heard the introduction of a report of the
United Nations Expert on Space Applications, Adigun Abiodun, as it
began consideration of agenda items on the report of its Scientific
and Technical Sub-Committee, and on the implementations of the
recommendations of the 1982 United Nations Conference on the
Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE 82). 
 
     The Committee will continue its discussion of the peaceful uses
of outer space, as well as on UNISPACE 82 and the Scientific and
Technical Sub-Committee report, at its next meeting, at 10:30 a.m.
tomorrow, 8 June. 
 
     Committee Work Programme
 
     The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space met this
afternoon to conclude its general exchange of views, and to begin
discussion of ways and means of maintaining outer space for peaceful
purposes, which had been designated a matter of priority by the General 
Assembly.  (For background, see Press Release OS/1419 of 2 June.) 
 
     General Debate
 
     TANG CHENGYUAN (China) said China's space programme had
registered continuous and steady progress, and since last June it had
successfully launched three satellites, one of which contained some
experimental equipment from the Federal Republic of Germany.  It was
the third time China had offered such a service to a foreign country. 
China had also successfully launched 25 man-made Earth satellites.  It
was conducting research into the development of a new generation of
low-cost, toxic-free and pollution-free launch rockets with greater
propelling power. 
 
     The present trend towards relaxation in international relations
had created more favourable conditions for international space
co-operation, he said.  Through the Space Applications Programme,
United Nations agencies had provided the developing countries with
technical consultations.  Within the United Nations framework, a
variety of training courses, symposiums and workshops had been held,
contributing to the co-ordination of space activities.  Regional space
co-operation agencies had also been strengthened. Good results had
already been achieved in the implementation of the recommendations of
the 1982 United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful
Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE 82), he said. 
 
     China would continue to make efforts for the implementation of
the Space Applications Programme.  Last September, China and the
United Nations Outer Space Affairs Division had co-sponsored in
Beijing a symposium on progress in the application of satellite
telecommunications.  Last April, China and some United Nations
agencies had co-sponsored in Beijing a training course on
remote-sensing optics and the chemical image processing.  Next year,
the Chinese Government and United Nations agencies would co-sponsor an
international symposium on the utilization of space technology to
combat natural disasters.  China fully supported the activities
concerning international space year, and had already set up a preparatory 
committee on the year to co-ordinate and prepare for such activities. 
 
     The main task of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer
Space was the discussion of scientific, technical and legal questions
concerning the peaceful use of the outer space, he said, with the aim
of strengthening international co-operation in that area.  He
expressed satisfaction at progress made in the Scientific and
Technical Sub-Committee on the use of nuclear power sources, and said
that progress made by the Legal Sub-Committee had also been
encouraging:  two principles on nuclear power sources had been adopted
and groundwork laid for agreement on other principles. 
 
     JEAN ARETS, representative of the European Space Agency (ESA),
and that in 1989, the member States of the Agency were marking their
twenty-fifth anniversary of co-operation in outer space exploration. 
 
     Reviewing relevant progress, he said in 1987, members had
approved a long-term plan which would guide Agency activities until
the end of the century.  In 1988, an intergovernmental agreement had
been signed by the United States, Japan, Canada and the European
States taking part in the Columbus programme, while the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States (NASA) and
ESA had signed an agreement to develop a programme for an international 
space station.  In addition, the thirtieth launch of an Ariane rocket 
had just been completed. 
 
     In the area of telecommunications, he said the EUTELSAT
organization was now completely operational.  In June 1989, the
Olympus satellite, the largest communications satellite built in
Europe, would be launched.  The satellite would allow the development
of high definition television, as well as experiments in using higher
frequencies.  In the area of observation, the first Meteosat satellite
had been launched, which, together with another satellite already in
orbit, would contribute to the success of the international space year
by providing greater knowledge of Earth's environment.  The ERS-1
satellite was open to international co-operation, and agreements had
been signed with the United States and Japan. 
 
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From:	DECPA::"IJBH200%[email protected]" "John B. Harlan" 
        10-JAN-1992 09:31:51.77
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Article: 55188
Newsgroups: sci.space
From: [email protected] (Hans Haubold)
Subject: UN ACTIVE IN ASTRONOMY MEETING REPORT
Organization: United Nations Office for Outer Space
Date: Sun, 17 Jan 1993 21:00:34 GMT
 
                    UN ACTIVE IN ASTRONOMY
                       MEETING REPORT
 
The Second United Nations (UN)/European Space Agency (ESA) Workshop on
Basic Space Science, with support from The Planetary Society(TPS), was
held at the University of Costa Rica, San Jose (Costa Rica), 2 to 7
November 1992, and at the University of the Andes, Bogota (Colombia),
9 to 13 November 1992 
 
The United Nations Office for Outer Space promotes collaboration in
space science and technology among industrialized and developing
countries. This workshop has been organized as part of the United
Nations Programme on Space Applications, observing also the
International Space Year (ISY) 1992 as a world-wide initiative of the
Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), space agencies and the
scientific community to enhance international collaboration in the
field of basic space science. 

The workshop brought together astronomers of 13 countries from Latin
America and the Caribbean, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Sweden,
United Kingdom, United States of America, ESA, NASA, and the UN. The
workshop was held over a time period of two weeks in two countries.
During the first week in Costa Rica scientific issues in planetary and
solar system science were addressed. Cosmology and astronomy space
missions were the main topics during the second week of the workshop
which took place in Colombia. Specific observations and suggestions to
promote the development and participation of Latin American and
Caribbean countries in the basic space sciences, were addressed
throughout the workshop and have been collected in a set of
recommendations which will be presented to the United Nations
Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) for
consideration. 

The objectives of the workshop were achieved through intensive joint
discussions after detailed presentations made by all participating
astronomers. The workshop was held in the spirit that the continuing
quest for fundamental knowledge and transfer of the achieved knowledge
into education and public perception, present an important driving
force for social, cultural and economic renewal. This can be
accomplished in an efficient way through international collaboration
at the highest scientific level. 

Special introductory lectures were given to introduce current
prominent problems and challenges in the basic space sciences, of
interest and importance not only for the Latin American and Caribbean
region, but also for developing countries in general: The ESA lecture
(W.Wamsteker) `Archives and their relation to the development of
fundamental scientific ideas`, the TPS lecture (C.R.Chapman)
`Catastrophic impacts on Earth`, the ISY lecture (R.v.Ammon)
`Detection of astrophysical neutrinos`, the Costa Rica lecture
(W.Fernandez) `Changes in solar irradiance and atmospheric turbidity
in Costa Rica during the total solar eclipse of July 1991`, and the
Colombian lecture (S.Torres) `COBE results and their cosmological
implications`. Among the distinguished speakers whose support for the
workshop was exemplary were W.J.Anderson (Canada), J.Bennett (NASA),
C.- G.Faelthammar (Sweden), M.H.Ibanez (Venezuela), A.M.Mathai
(Canada), J.Sahade (Argentina), and H.-U.Zimmermann (Germany). 

Through the initiative of Prof. M.Kitamura (Japan) the Government of
Japan has initiated and will continue to support the establishment of
national astronomical observatories in developing countries through
the provision of suitable equipment such as small astronomical
research telescopes with associated equipment. 

The European Space Agency strives to provide in 1993 a limited number
of personal computer systems to research institutes and universities
in developing countries where such basic facilities are sometimes not
easily accessible. The United Nations Office for Outer Space will in
the future continue its responsibility in promoting this series of
workshops to stimulate international collaboration in the field of
basic space science. 

After the first workshop held in Asia (India) in 1991 with the support
of the Indian Space Research Organization(ISRO) and the second Latin
America and the Caribbean held this year,  the next workshop is
planned for 1993 in Africa. These workshops will continue to bring
together active astronomers from developing and industrialized
countries, and to seek, with support from space agencies and the
international scientific community a strengthening of the growth of
basic space science in countries where the techniques and infrastructure 
to benefit from the progress made in this field have not yet been fully 
developed. 
---
Hans J. Haubold, Office for Outer Space, United Nations, New York,
NY 10017, USA, [email protected] or [email protected]

Article: 3484
From: [email protected] (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.news.gov.international,clari.tw.space,clari.news.europe
Subject: U.N. space agency moves to Vienna but Austrians angry
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 93 13:11:07 PDT
 
	VIENNA (UPI) -- Vienna will be the new residence of the U.N. space
agency but some Austrian politicians said Thursday that the new body did
not make up for a larger U.N. unit that the Austrian capital had lost.

	The Center for Social and Humanitarian Affairs, which dealt with
issues relating to women, the aged and the handicapped, had 59 posts at
the U.N. complex in Vienna while the Office for Outer Space Affairs has
only 20 posts.

	Many Austrian politicians, however, are less concerned about the
number of posts than about the fact that Vienna -- originally regarded as
one of the three main U.N. centers alongside New York and Geneva -- is
being downgraded.

	Peter Jankowitsch, a former foreign minister, said the space agency
was ``small compensation'' for the loss of the social center which has
been moved back to the U.N. headquarters in New York.

	Peter Hohenfellner, a former Austrian ambassador to the United
Nations, said the move was ``regrettable.''

	``We will want to see the further beefing up of the Vienna units,''
Hohenfellner added.

	The politicians' anger over the changes is compounded by the fact
that in the late 1970s the Austrian government built a massive complex
to house the U.N. offices and now rents the premises to the United
Nations for the symbolic annual rent of one schilling (6 cents).

	Another senior Austrian politician, speaking on condition of
anonymity, said Austria was paying the price for not supporting Boutros
Boutros-Ghali in the first round of voting which ultimately saw him
confirmed as U.N. secretary general.

	The Office for Outer Space Affairs is a back-up for the U.N.
Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and assists countries in
using space technology for development.

Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1993 20:55:19 GMT
From: "Robert B. Love " <[email protected]>
Subject: Policy Documents
Newsgroups: sci.space

                     U.S. SPACE POLICY DOCUMENTS

Tufts' Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy Mulitateral Treaties
Project has been working on space treaties again.

These are in the file /pub/diplomacy at jade.tufts.edu. There are
also Word Perfect versions (plain courier font) in the sub-directory
/pub/diplomacy/word-perfect, as *.wp

New
=====
BH454.txt      Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere,
               in Outer Space and Under Water (5 Aug 63)

BH688.txt      Convention on International Maritime Satellite
               Organization (INMARSAT) with Annex (3 Sep 76,
               amended 1985, with Protocol 1981)

BH585.txt      Agreement Relating to the International
               Telecommunications Satellite Organization "INTELSAT"
               (20 Aug 71)

Previously Listed
=================
BH500.txt      Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of
               States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space,
               Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (1967)

BH523.txt      Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of
               Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into
               Outer Space (1968)

BH595.txt      Convention on International Liability for Damage
               Caused by Space Objects (1972)

BH653.txt      Convention on Registration of Objects Launched
               into Outer Space (1975)

BH766.txt      Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the
               Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (1979)

The Univ of Colorado's Center for Space Law & Policy maintains a
BBS at (303)494-8446 where these are available via dial-in for
those without FTP.

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