The legal framework for a treaty on PAROS is set out in the Outer Space Treaty.

Seriously concerned about the possibility of an arms race in outer space, and bearing in mind the importance of article IV of the Outer Space Treaty,

Recalling the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial BodiesUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 610, No. 8843. (Outer Space Treaty), in particular articles VIII and XI,

Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and Under Water

The cornerstone of international space law is the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, of which the United Kingdom is a depository.

The 1967 Outer Space Treaty reflects international consensus on the common interest of all mankind in the progress of the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes .

Among its achievements, the Committee on the peaceful uses of outer space had been instrumental in the adoption by the General Assembly of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and had organized three United Nations conferences on the exploration and peaceful uses of outer space (UNISPACE).

Essentially, it presents our tentative definitions of terms such as outer space, outer space object and weapons in outer space.

The 1967 Outer Space Treaty, as recalled by other delegations, already disciplines principles governing the activities of States in the exploration and use of outer space, but there is a need to consolidate and reinforce the regime established by that Treaty and enhance its effectiveness.

(a) The Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (the Outer Space Treaty , General Assembly resolution 2222 (XXI), annex) had 98 States parties and had been signed by 27 additional States

New Zealand strongly supports the consideration of a treaty on the prevention of an arms race in outer space.

On the basis of the precepts of the 1966 Outer Space Treaty, we believe that it would be appropriate to negotiate a legally binding international instrument which would prohibit any deployment of weapons in outer space.

That delegation was of the view that it was time for the partial space weapons ban enshrined in the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (the Outer Space Treaty , General Assembly resolution 2222 (XXI), annex) to be extended to all weapons.

In his view, this Conference has brought about a range of useful recommendations, including improving the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, constructive engagement and cooperation, verification, unilateral declaration on no first deployment of weapons in outer space, a space code of conduct, negotiate a legal instrument to prevent the weaponization in outer space, ensure space common security etc., that need to be further explored by the international community.

Many questions have been raised, including a possible distinction between weaponization and militarization of outer space, and definitions of technical terms, such as  outer space , space weapon , space object and peaceful use of outer space .

The need to work more on a treaty that prevents the weaponization of outer space, and that contains methods of verification.

(c) In cases of joint launches of space objects, each space object should be registered separately and, without prejudice to the rights and obligations of States, space objects should be included, in accordance with international law, including the relevant United Nations treaties on outer space, in the appropriate registry of the State responsible for the operation of the space object under article VI of the Outer Space Treaty United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 610, No. 8843.

As the fortieth anniversary of the signing of the Outer Space Treaty approaches, we would urge Member States to work towards universalizing the Treaty, which currently has 98 States parties.

These two resolutions, Prevention ofarms race in outer space and not to place weapons first in outer space ,

Peaceful uses of outer space

The proposed Treaty on Common Cooperative Security in Outer Space (CSO) puts at its heart the clauses of mankind' and the peaceful uses' of space, that are stipulated in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty (OST) and were recognized by the UNGA (as early as resolution 1148 in 1957) by consensus from the then superpowers, and the concept of common security' that denotes security achieved through cooperation.

The view was expressed that outer space must be protected from the threat posed by weapons in outer space.

The view was expressed that the provisions of articles I and II of the Outer Space Treaty made it clear that a party to the Treaty could not appropriate any part of outer space, such as an orbital location in the geostationary orbit, either by claim of sovereignty or by means of use, or even repeated use.

For example, in response to the increasing commercialization of outer space, the Office for Outer Space Affairs should continue its yearly workshops on space law.

He also proposed an alternative solution, and recommended an extension of the prohibition on the deployment of weapons of mass destruction in space, as provided for by the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.

This multilateral legal regime for outer space, however, bans only the introduction of weapons of mass destruction in outer space.

As we approach the fortieth anniversary of the signing of the Outer Space Treaty, we would urge member States to work towards universalizing the Outer Space Treaty, which currently has 98 States parties. For those delegations who today question the need to negotiate treaty law in the disarmament field, let me ask them to consider the level of vulnerability of the commercial, communication, verification and intelligence assets in space, if not for this existing multilateral legal regime.

OOSA Office for Outer Space Affairs

Russia has considerable space potential and experience in outer space exploration.

Both are aimed at a single goal that of promoting the security of outer space, strengthening mutual trust and cooperation among States in outer space, and working to prevent an arms race in outer space.

Malaysia is of the view that while existing international legal instruments on outer space, such as the Treaty on Principles governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, prohibit the deployment of weapons of mass destruction in outer space, none of them completely ban the testing, deployment and use of other weapons or weapon systems.

Seriously concerned about the possibility of an arms race in outer space, and bearing in mind the importance of article IV of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,

Over the past 35 years, a number of treaties and agreements have been concluded to protect assets in space, among which the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, concluded in the early years of space exploration, remains the most important.

That view was based on the following space objects are governed by the principles set out in the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (General Assembly resolution 2222 (XXI), annex) (Outer Space Treaty), in accordance with which they are subject to the customary rule that establishes the right to innocent (free and peaceful) passage.

All States which had not yet done so should ratify or accede to the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (Outer Space Treaty) States should also consider extending the partial weapons ban found in that Treaty, as suggested by the Prime Minister of Canada during his address to the General Assembly in 2005.

There have recently been worrying developments relating to outer space, making efforts to halt the weaponization of outer space the more pressing.

Have you ever been to outer space?

The definition and delimitation of outer space

Registration of objects launched into outer space

The fundamental legal instrument governing outer space activities, the OST, has loopholes with regards to the prevention of outer space weaponization, and no international consensus has been reached on how to address the serious challenges facing outer space.

Another step available to all States is to accede to the Outer Space Treaty, and Canada encourages all those that have not yet done so to ratify the Treaty before its fortieth anniversary in 2007.

To face this problem, we need to patch up the international legal system on outer space, in particular we need to ensure that we develop a comprehensive regime preventing weaponization of outer space and an arms race in outer space.

The thematic non paper being distributed today examines this issue, and possible options for addressing it, and sets out some specific proposals on possible definitions of such key terms as outer space , outer space object , weapons in outer space , etc.

We firmly believe that only a legal instrument prohibiting the deployment of weapons in outer space and the prevention of the threat or use of force against outer space objects can eliminate the emerging threat of the weaponization of outer space.

Discussion on how to preserve security in outer space and prevent an arms race in outer space put forward three options to choose from