General statement by the representative of the delegation of the Russian Federation before the vote on the draft proposals in Cluster 3: Outer Space (Disarmament aspects) in the First Committee of the 79th session of the UNGA, New York, November 5, 2024
6 November 2024 17:01
2088-06-11-2024
Madam Chair,
Russia is a responsible participant in outer space activities and the author of a number of fundamental initiatives aimed at the prevention of an arms race in outer space (PAROS). In doing so, our State contributes to keeping outer space free of weapons and preventing it from becoming yet another sphere of tension and armed confrontation.
There are now two interrelated goals for the international community. The first one is to preserve outer space for exploitation exclusively for peaceful purposes. The second goal is to ensure non-discriminatory access to outer space and space benefits for all UN Member States without exception, and to create the necessary conditions for them to use outer space technologies for sustainable development.
Guided by these goals, Russia again submitted three draft resolutions to the UNGA First Committee: "Further practical measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space" (L.6), "Transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities" (L.58) and "No first placement of weapons in outer space" (L.59).
Each of these draft proposals addresses a different aspect of the efforts of the international community in the area of PAROS. It is well understood, however, that the key objective of PAROS has always been and remains the development of a multilateral legally binding instrument prohibiting the placement of weapons in outer space or the threat or use of force against or by means of space objects, in line with the decisions of the SSOD-I in 1978. All other activities and initiatives are primarily of a subsidiary nature.
All three documents are based on similar UNGA resolutions of previous years, which received unconditional support of the absolute majority of UN Member States. They have also been updated in the light of recent developments in the area of PAROS.
In particular, the draft resolution on transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities (TCBMs) emphasizes the importance of the UNGA-endorsed "recommendations to promote the practical implementation of TCBMs with the goal of PAROS, in accordance with the recommendations set out in the report of the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on TCBMs" adopted by the UN Disarmament Commission in 2023 (OP6), and recalls the expediency of the practical implementation of such measures. (OP 10).
The draft resolutions on further practical measures for PAROS and on no placement of weapons in outer space welcome and emphasize the importance of the activities of the GGE on PAROS established pursuant to UNGA resolution 77/250 at the Russian initiative, which completed its work in August this year.
These two drafts stipulate, inter alia, that the consensus report of the GGE on PAROS, which is one of the most significant achievements in this area in the last decade, should be conveyed to all the relevant disarmament fora, other UN bodies and organizations, as well as to all UN Member States. The GGE report should serve as a reference document for further measures and negotiations on an international legally binding instrument on PAROS, including on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space.
We are convinced that the adoption of these three resolutions will strengthen the efforts of the international community in the area of PAROS and confirm the previously defined focus of work aimed at the early development of new "hard" norms of international space law to ensure that outer space remains peaceful and free of all types of weapons.
It is in that constructive spirit that the amendments proposed by Russia (A/C. 1/79/78/Rev.1 and A/C.l/79/79/Rev.1) to the draft resolution submitted by the United States of America, Japan and Argentina on weapons of mass destruction in outer space (L.7/Rev.1) shall be considered.
Russia has no objection to reaffirming the obligations already contained in Article IV of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and strictly observed by all States Parties. We see a positive change in the U.S. approach to this Treaty, which is the cornerstone of international space law and the most important regulator of space activities.
Nevertheless, it is unacceptable to give the impression that UN Member States are prepared to limit themselves to reaffirming already existing international legal norms. As it was noted earlier, the main objective of PAROS is to develop new legally binding agreements as soon as possible which, among other things, provide for a ban on the placement of any weapons, not only WMD, in outer space.
As conceived by the authors, the initiative of the United States, Japan and Argentina could be interpreted as an attempt to legitimize the placement of any other weapons other than WMD in outer space, which would provoke a conventional arms race in outer space. Should the Russian amendments be approved, they will give this draft resolution a balanced character, bring it in line with other UNGA resolutions on PAROS, and thus the document will correspond to the interests and joint aspirations of the entire international community.
Thank you.
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