Resolutions emphasize transparency, confidence building, and space security measures

UN, October 1, 2020 TASS (English translations)

By Correspondent Maria Khrenova

Russia will submit two resolutions on space security measures to the 75th session of the UN General Assembly this year. This was stated in an exclusive interview with TASS by Russia’s permanent representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzia.

“At the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, along with our other traditional initiatives in the field of disarmament, we plan, as in previous years, to introduce draft resolutions on the non-deployment of weapons in outer space and on measures to ensure transparency and confidence – building in space activities,” he informed.

The permanent representative explained that the first resolution “calls on all States to consider joining the political commitment to non-deployment and to start substantive work at the conference on disarmament in Geneva as soon as possible on the basis of the Russian-Chinese draft Treaty. The second one is aimed at stimulating further discussion on transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space,” the diplomat added.

Weapons in space

The United States and its NATO allies may soon try to place weapons components in space, Nebenzia said, commenting on the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin to sign an agreement on security in space announced at the General Assembly.

“In recent years, due to the actions of Washington, the situation worsened markedly, he said. “It is possible that in the near future we may witness the appearance in space of weapons components of the American potential and, perhaps, of other States that are US allies in NATO.”

“This is a very dangerous scenario,” the diplomat said. ‘We will make every effort to prevent such a development.”

According to him, the only way to protect humanity from this type of threat is to conclude “a legally binding agreement with the participation of all space-significant States, which provides for a ban on the deployment of weapons in outer space and the use of force or the threat of force against space objects.”

“Until such a Treaty is adopted, we call on all States to make a voluntary political commitment not to be the first to place weapons in space,” the permanent representative said. He recalled that Russia assumed such obligations back in 2004, “and unilaterally.”

Since then (2004), more than 20 countries have joined this initiative,” Nebenzia added.

UPDATE: More recently, more than 100 countries have supported a resolution to prevent the placement of weapons in outer space,” says geopolitical scientist Alexander Seymenov.

SOURCE: https://tass.ru/politika/9598585