Statement by Ambassador Alexey Borodavkin, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the Conference on Disarmament

Thematic discussions on prevention of an arms race in outer space,
Geneva, 5 June 2012

Mr. President,

The Russian Delegation considers the issue of preventing an arms race in outer space (PAROS) to be the priority items on the agenda of the Conference on Disarmament.

Nowadays, more than 130 States participate in peaceful outer space activities. They either have their own outer space programs or use information from space research.

At the same time, the scale of use of space systems for military purposes is expanding throughout the world. The Russian Federation also has developed and has been using stand-alone spacecrafts as well as orbital satellite groupings. The normal functioning of military space systems designed for various purposes contribute to maintaining strategic stability and international security through creating a more transparent and predictable regime of military activities as well as through monitoring compliance with arms limitations agreements. Here we are talking about activities carried out in accordance with international law. Though military by nature these space systems are not weapons, for they are not intended for striking an enemy in a military combat and do not represent a threat of attack in space or from space.

Yet, the placement on orbit of weapons designed to hit adversary`s assets in space and on ground not only would undermine the existing system of agreements on arms limitations, first of all on nuclear-missile, but would incite a new round of arms race on a higher qualitative level. Transformation of outer space into a potential arena of military combat is fraught with serious threats of disrupting strategic stability and eroding international security.

The issue of prevention of the weaponization of space is not brand new. As early as in 1967 the Outer Space Treaty was concluded, which provided for the prohibition of deploying the WMD on the Moon and other celestial bodies. Thus, our predecessors were aware of the importance of taking preventive measures aimed at barring access to the placement of weapons in space.

On international arena the Russian Federation has put forward a number of practical initiatives aimed at neutralizing this threat. On its own initiative Russia took such a serious measure of transparency and confidence-building in space activities as advance provision of information on future launches of space objects, on their purpose and main parameters of the orbit. We made it clear that we had no intention of developing of any systems of space weapons or of their deploying on near-earth orbit. Russia continues to observe moratorium on the testing of anti-satellite (ASAT) systems. In October 2004 at the 59^th UN GA session Russia unilaterally and unconditionally stated that it would not be the first to place any kind of weapons in outer space. Our partners from the Organization of the Treaty on Collective Security supported this initiative and committed not to place weapons in outer space. We call on all states possessing relevant capabilities to follow suit.

The issue of the PAROS has been under thorough examination at our forum as well. Delegations have been actively and with great interest discussing this key CD agenda item in different formats be it at official plenaries, informal discussions or annual international conferences.

The existing international legal instruments on arms control and disarmament related to outer space, including bilateral agreements and legal regimes play a positive role and should be complied with. Still, due to the limitations they are not capable of effectively preventing placement of weapons in outer space as well as arms race.

We need a new international legal instrument to prevent this threat. On that premise Russia and China submitted to the Conference on Disarmament the draft of the Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space, and of the Threat or Use of Force Against Outer Space Objects on February 12, 2008, which was issued as the official document CD/1839.

Russia and China tried to cover the most significant aspects of strengthening military security in outer space in this draft.

The preamble contains general provisions on the purposes of the eventual treaty with the most important of them being the prevention of placement of weapons in outer space and ensuring trouble-free operation of space objects.

The draft treaty provides for a number of definitions and terms we suggested for the sake of uniform interpretation of our draft.

Important also are the provisions regulating activities of the Executive body to be established to realize goals and objectives of the Treaty.

The aforementioned provisions of the draft treaty are of a framework nature and are to be fine-tuned in the course of the negotiations process.

As for the verification of the compliance with the Treaty these measures could be dealt either in the framework of PPWT or in a supplementary protocol.

We note with satisfaction that international community showed great interest in the Russian-Chinese draft.Some clarifying questions were asked in the course of discussions on the text. We summed them up and provided detailed answers in document CD/1872 of 18 August 2009.

We have already drawn the attention of the delegations to the fact that nothing in the Russian-Chinese draft is "set in stone". This is rather an invitation to a dialogue and joint creativity work than something static. We are grateful to all states that have contributed to the consideration of the draft and looking forward to the new comments.

We deem it reasonable that consideration of transparency and confidence-building measures (TCBMs) should be stepped up given that the Conference on Disarmament is unable, unfortunately, to start negotiations on the PPWT draft as well as on other core issues of its agenda. On 8 December 2010 the 65^th UNGA session adopted resolution 65/68 which requested the UN Secretary General to establish on the basis of equitable geographical distribution a group of governmental experts to conduct a study commencing in 2012 on outer space transparency and confidence-building measures to be submitted to the 68^th UN GA session in 2013. In this respect we assume that application of these measures, while not being a substitute for efforts to prevent an arms race in space, would contribute to a greater transparency and predictability of outer space activities in all spheres, including in military.

We are willing to keep the Conference on Disarmament informed of the Group`s activities. We call upon all states to submit their suggestions and proposals to the UN Secretary General for the Group to take them into account during its deliberations.

We note with satisfaction that the necessity to develop confidence-building measures in outer space is getting growing understanding by the international community and its support. We consider proposals made by other countries in this regard and take them on board. In general, we appreciate positively the draft Code of Conduct in Space proposed by the EU and are ready to participate in its finalization on a multilateral basis.

Mr. President,

The overwhelming majority of the CD Members agree with us that preventing an arms race in outer space is extremely important for maintaining international security now and in future and appreciated positively the Russian-Chinese draft Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space as a basis for negotiations. We believe that in-depth discussions at the Conference on Disarmament should be continued and, as a long-term perspective, should move into a negotiation phase. We will make sure that such a provision is reflected in the Program of Work of the Conference.