VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #8279 0832059
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 242037Z MAR 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0000
INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0000
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0000
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 0000
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0000
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0000
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0000
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0000
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0000
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 0000
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0000
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0000
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0000

UNCLAS STATE 028279 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TSPA UNPUOS UNGA AORC
SUBJECT: COPUOS: GUIDANCE FOR THE 48TH SESSION OF THE 
LEGAL SUBCOMMITTEE (LSC) OF THE UN COMMITTEE ON THE 
PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE, MARCH 23-APRIL 3,2009 
 
REF: (A)STATE 11917 (B) STATE 12948 (C) UNVIEVIENNA 
     103 (D) MOSCOW 556 (E) STATE 2007 
 
¶1.  FOLLOWING IS GUIDANCE FOR THE 48TH SESSION OF THE LEGAL 
SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE UN COMMITTEE ON THE PEACEFUL USES OF 
OUTER SPACE (COPUOS).  IT IS DIVIDED INTO A GENERAL OVERVIEW 
AND GUIDANCE FOR SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS. 
---------------- 
GENERAL OVERVIEW 
---------------- 
¶2.  THIS YEAR,S LEGAL SUBCOMMITTEE OFFERS POTENTIAL FOR 
ADVANCING USG INTERESTS ON SEVERAL FRONTS. THE LEGAL 
SUBCOMMITTEE (&LSC8) REMAINS AN IMPORTANT FORUM FOR SHAPING 
THE SPACE LEGAL AND REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT.  U.S. ENGAGEMENT 
WITH THE LSC HELPS TO PROTECT AND ADVANCE U.S. INTERESTS 
RELATING TO SPACE ACTIVITIES, PARTICULARLY AS THE USE OF 
OUTER SPACE INCREASES. USDEL SHOULD BUILD ON THE POSITIVE AND 
CONSTRUCTIVE ATMOSPHERE OF THE LAST SESSION OF THE SCIENTIFIC 
AND TECHNICAL SUBCOMMITTEE WHERE WE SUCCEEDED IN MAKING 
PROGRESS ON A RANGE OF IMPORTANT ISSUES, AS WELL AS IN 
REINFORCING USG LEADERSHIP IN THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND WESTERN 
CAUCUS. 
¶3.  COLLISION OF IRIDIUM AND COSMOS 2251SATELLITES: 
REFTELS B, C AND D CONTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING THE 
COLLISION OF AN IRIDIUM SATELLITE AND RUSSIA'S COSMOS 2251, 
NOTIFICATION PROVIDED BY U.S. DELEGATION AT THE COPUOS 
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SUBCOMMITTEE, AND SUBSEQUENT 
EXCHANGES OF INFORMATION WITH THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.  THE 
U.S. DELEGATION WILL HAVE CONTINGENCY POINTS SHOULD QUESTIONS 
ARISE IN THE MEETING OR ON THE MARGINS. THE U.S. DELEGATION 
MAY DRAW UPON THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL POINTS AS NECESSARY: 
 
- AS A RESULT OF THE FEBRUARY 10, 2008, COLLISION OF THE 
IRIDUM-33 AND COSMOS 2251 SATELLITES, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF 
DEFENSE IS NOW CONDUCTING AN ASSESSMENT OF THE PROCESSES AND 
PROCEDURES CURRENTLY EMPLOYED FOR MONITORING SPACE OBJECTS, 
PERFORMING ORBITAL CONJUCTION ANALYSES, AND REPORTING 
PERTINENT FINDINGS TO CONCERNED PARTIES. 
 
- RESULTS FROM THIS ASSESSMENT ARE EXPECTED LATER THIS SPRING. 
 
-- THE UNITED STATES LOOKS FORWARD TO DISCUSSING RESULTS FROM 
THIS ASSESSMENT AT THE 52ND SESSION OF COPUOS THIS JUNE IN 
VIENNA. 
 
-- THE UNITED STATES ALSO INTENDS TO DISCUSS RESULTS OF THE 
USG'S ASSESSMENT WITH INTERESTED GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE 
SECTOR SATELLITE OPERATORS. 
 
- THIS INCIDENT SERVES AS A REMINDER OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE 
LONG-STANDING PRINCIPLE OF COOPERATION AND MUTUAL ASSISTANCE 
IN THE EXPLORATION AND USE OF OUTER SPACE. 
 
-- THE UNITED STATES HAS ALREADY RECEIVED TECHNICAL 
INFORMATION FROM RUSSIA ON THIS EVENT, WHICH SERVES AS A 
USEFUL CONTRIBUTION TO THE U.S. ASSESSMENT. 
 
-- THE UNITED STATES CONTINUES TO SUPPORT DISCUSSIONS ON 
PRAGMATIC PROPOSALS TO ENSURE THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF 
THE SPACE ENVIRONMENT. 
 
-- THIS INCIDENT ALSO CAN SERVE AS AN IMPETUS TO INCREASE AND 
IMPROVE BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL TRANSPARENCY AND 
CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES (TCBMS) RELATING TO SPACE 
ACTIVITIES. 
 
¶4. ARMS CONTROL: THE ISSUE OF SPACE ARMS CONTROL MAY BE A 
MAJOR ISSUE GIVEN THE NEW U.S. ADMINISTRATION.  IF THIS 
OCCURS, USDEL SHOULD STRESS THAT COPUOS IS CONCERNED 
EXCLUSIVELY WITH INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN THE PEACEFUL 
USES OF OUTER SPACE, AS INDICATED BY ITS TITLE.  THE FIRST 
COMMITTEE OF THE UNGA (DISARMAMENT AND INTERNATIONAL 
SECURITY) AND THE CD WOULD BE THE MORE APPROPRIATE 
MULTILATERAL FORA TO DISCUSS ARMS CONTROL MATTERS RELATED TO 
OUTER SPACE.  OUR OBJECTIVE IN COPUOS AND ITS SUBCOMMITTEES 
IS TO UNDERSCORE THE UNPRECEDENTED INTERNATIONAL SPACE 
COOPERATION NOW UNDERWAY AND REINFORCE OPPOSITION TO CALLS IN 
THE CD FOR ARMS CONTROL NEGOTIATIONS ON OUTER SPACE.  THE 
U.S. DELEGATION MAY DRAW ON THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL POINTS 
AS NECESSARY: 
 
-- THERE IS UNPRECEDENTED INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN SPACE. 
 
-- THE LAWFUL MILITARY USES OF SPACE HAVE BROAD BENEFITS FOR 
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND ENHANCE INTERNATIONAL PEACE 
AND SECURITY.  EXAMPLES INCLUDE TREATY COMPLIANCE/ 
MONITORING, COMMUNICATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING, GPS, 
REFUGEE TRACKING, COUNTERTERRORISM, AND SANCTIONS 
ENFORCEMENT. 
 
-- IF THE U.S. DELEGATION IS PRESSED ABOUT THE 
ADMINISTRATION,S STATEMENT ON THE WHITE HOUSE DEFENSE WEB 
SITE FOR A WORLDWIDE BAN ON WEAPONS THAT INTERFERE WITH 
MILITARY AND COMMERCIAL SATELLITES (SEE NOTE BELOW FOR EXACT 
STATEMENT), THE U.S. DELEGATION WILL STATE THAT THE NEW 
ADMINISTRATION IS IN THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING ALL POLICIES AS 
A NATURAL PART OF THE GOVERNMENT TRANSITION PROCESS. 
 
-- IF FURTHER PRESSED REGARDING CONTINUITY IN U.S. SPACE 
POLICY, USDEL MAY ALSO NOTE THAT: 
 
--- IT IS A PART OF LONG-STANDING U.S. SPACE POLICY THAT THE 
UNITED STATES WILL MAINTAIN AND STRENGTHEN THE ESTABLISHED 
PRINCIPLE OF FREE ACCESS TO, AND USE OF, OUTER SPACE BY ALL 
NATIONS IN SUPPORT OF LEGITIMATE ECONOMIC AND SECURITY 
INTERESTS. 
 
--- AS SPACE BECOMES AN INCREASINGLY CONGESTED AND COMPLEX 
DOMAIN, THE UNITED STATES WILL TAKE AN ACTIVE LEADERSHIP ROLE 
IN IDENTIFYING AND IMPLEMENTING COOPERATIVE EFFORTS WITH 
ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL 
SPACEFARING COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE SPACE 
ASSETS OF ALL NATIONS. 
 
--- BUILDING UPON RECENT PROGRESS AT THE UNITED NATIONS ON 
INTERNATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR ORBITAL DEBRIS MITIGATION, THE 
UNITED STATES WILL SUSTAIN ITS GLOBAL LEADERSHIP IN 
SPACEFLIGHT SAFETY AND IN THE FORMULATION OF PRACTICAL 
GUIDELINES TO PRESERVE THE SPACE ENVIRONMENT FOR FUTURE 
GENERATIONS. 
NOTE: THE STATEMENT ON WWW.WHITE HOUSE.GOV/AGENDA/DEFENSE 
SITE READS: &BUILD DEFENSE CAPABILITIES FOR THE 21ST 
CENTURY; ENSURE FREEDOM OF SPACE: THE OBAMA-BIDEN 
ADMINISTRATION WILL RESTORE AMERICAN LEADERSHIP ON SPACE 
ISSUES, SEEKING A WORLDWIDE BAN ON WEAPONS THAT INTERFERE 
WITH MILITARY AND COMMERCIAL SATELLITES.  THEY WILL 
THOROUGHLY ASSESS POSSIBLE THREATS TO U.S. SPACE ASSETS AND 
THE BEST OPTIONS, MILITARY AND DIPLOMATIC, FOR COUNTERING 
THEM, ESTABLISHING CONTINGENCY PLANS TO ENSURE THAT U.S. 
FORCES CAN MAINTAIN OR DUPLICATE ACCESS TO INFORMATION FROM 
SPACE ASSETS AND ACCELERATING PROGRAMS TO HARDEN U.S. 
SATELLITES AGAINST ATTACK.8 
 
¶5. OUTER SPACE "CODE OF CONDUCT:" THE ISSUE OF PROPOSALS FOR 
AN OUTER SPACE "CODE OF CONDUCT" WILL PROBABLY NOT BE A MAJOR 
ISSUE, BUT SOME DELEGATIONS MAY SEEK CLARIFICATION OF THE NEW 
ADMINISTRATION'S POSITION. THESE REQUESTS FOR CLARIFICATION 
MAY NOTE A DRAFTING PROJECT FOR A "CODE OF CONDUCT FOR OUTER 
SPACE ACTIVITIES" THAT WAS ENDORSED IN DECEMBER 2008 BY THE 
COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. (REFTEL E). IF RAISED, THE 
U.S. DELEGATION MAY DRAW UPON THE FOLLOWING POINTS AS 
NECESSARY: 
 
-- THE UNITED STATES WILL PLAY A LEADING ROLE IN ADVANCING 
TRANSPARENCY AND CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES (TCBMS) 
RELATING TO SPACE ACTIVITIES.  SUCH TCBMS CAN HELP INCREASE 
TRANSPARENCY REGARDING GOVERNMENTAL SPACE POLICIES, 
STRATEGIES AND POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS ACTIVITIES. THIS CAN 
HELP TO REDUCE UNCERTAINTY OVER INTENTIONS AND 
DECREASING THE RISK OF MISINTERPRETATION OR 
MISCALCULATION. 
 
-- IN THIS REGARD, THE ADMINISTRATION WILL CONTINUE TO WORK 
CLOSELY WITH OUR FRIENDS AND ALLIES IN EUROPE AND ELSEWHERE 
TO DEVELOP VOLUNTARY TCBMS THAT ALL SPACEFARING NATIONS CAN 
SUPPORT AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL 
NATIONS. 
 
-- ANY INTERNATIONAL EFFORT TO DEVELOP TCBMS SHOULD 
COMPLEMENT, AND NOT UNNECESSARILY DUPLICATE, THE WORK OF THE 
COPUOS. 
 
-- IN SUPPORT OF THIS PRINCIPLE IN TODAY,S ENVIRONMENT, IT 
IS IMPORTANT THAT THE UNITED STATES WORK CLOSELY WITH ITS 
ALLIES TO IMPLEMENT THE DIPLOMATIC OR MILITARY MEASURES THAT 
MAY BE NECESSARY BOTH TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED 
OPERATION (AND RESPONSIBLE USE) OF MILITARY, INTELLIGENCE, 
CIVIL, AND COMMERCIAL SATELLITES AND TO RESPOND APPROPRIATELY 
IF THESE SATELLITES ARE TARGETED IN A HOSTILE MANNER. 
 
¶6. MILITARY SPACE ACTIVITIES: THE NATURE AND CONDUCT OF U.S. 
MILITARY SPACE ACTIVITIES WILL PROBABLY NOT BE A MAJOR ISSUE. 
HOWEVER, SOME DELEGATIONS MAY RAISE VARIOUS U.S. MILITARY 
ACTIVITIES AS A TACTICAL DEVICE TO UNDERCUT U.S. EFFORTS TO 
PROMOTE GENERAL AND UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES FOR SPACEFLIGHT 
SAFETY. IF RAISED, THE U.S. DELEGATION MAY DRAW ON FOLLOWING 
POINTS, AS NECESSARY: 
 
-- THE LAWFUL MILITARY USES OF SPACE HAVE BROAD BENEFITS FOR 
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND ENHANCE INTERNATIONAL PEACE 
AND SECURITY.  SOME EXAMPLES INCLUDE TREATY 
COMPLIANCE/MONITORING, COMMUNICATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL 
MONITORING, GPS, REFUGEE TRACKING, COUNTERTERRORISM, AND 
SANCTIONS ENFORCEMENT. 
 
-- THE UNITED STATES IS COMMITTED TO THE PRINCIPLE THAT ALL 
SPACEFLIGHT OPERATIONS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED IN A SAFE AND 
RESPONSIBLE MANNER THAT PROTECTS HUMANS IN SPACE AS WELL AS 
ROBOTIC SPACE SYSTEMS AND THEIR MISSION EFFECTIVENESS. 
 
--- (IF ASKED) THE U.S. COMMITMENT TO SAFETY AND 
TRANSPARENCY ALSO WAS EXHIBITED IN LAST YEAR'S ENGAGEMENT OF 
THE DISABLED USA-193 SATELLITE. 
¶7. AGENDA ITEM 4 - STATUS AND APPLICATION OF THE FIVE UNITED 
NATIONS TREATIES ON OUTER SPACE:  THE SUBCOMMITTEE COMPLETED 
AT ITS 39TH SESSION A MULTI-YEAR WORK PLAN TO REVIEW THE 
STATUS OF THE UN SPACE TREATIES UNDER A SEPARATE AGENDA ITEM. 
DURING THE LIFE OF THIS ITEM, THERE WAS LITTLE IF ANY 
DISCUSSION OF REOPENING THE TREATIES OR ANY PROPOSALS FOR 
THEIR REVISION OR AMENDMENT (FYI: THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY 
SERIOUS EFFORT IN THE LSC TO REOPEN OR AMEND THE EXISTING 
TREATIES.  WE NOTE, HOWEVER, THAT OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS 
THE RUSSIAN DELEGATION REPEATEDLY INTRODUCED ITS PROPOSAL TO 
EXAMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING A COMPREHENSIVE 
CONVENTION ON SPACE LAW, WITH SOME SUPPORT FROM THE GREEK 
DELEGATION, AND THE CONCEPT OF CONVENING AN AD HOC INFORMAL 
WORKING GROUP TO CONSIDER THE DESIRABILITY OF DEVELOPING SUCH 
A UNIVERSAL COMPREHENSIVE SPACE LAW CONVENTION WAS AGAIN 
SUPPORTED BY SOME DELEGATIONS.  AT THE 2001 LSC MEETING, 
CHINA, COLOMBIA, AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION SUBMITTED A 
WORKING PAPER ADDRESSING THIS POSSIBILITY. COPUOS AND THE 
LEGAL SUBCOMMITTEE DO NOT HAVE THE MANDATE TO REVISE THESE 
INSTRUMENTS.  EACH TREATY HAS A SPECIFIC PROCESS FOR 
AMENDMENT INVOLVING ONLY THE STATES PARTIES (END FYI). 
INSTEAD, THE FOCUS ON THIS AGENDA ITEM WAS KEPT ON THE KEY 
POINTS: MORE COUNTRIES SHOULD CONSIDER ACCEDING TO THE FOUR 
CORE CONVENTIONS, AND SHOULD THEN CONSCIENTIOUSLY IMPLEMENT 
THOSE THAT THEY HAVE ACCEPTED. UNDER THIS ITEM, USDEL SHOULD 
REPORT ON ACTIONS TAKEN WITH RESPECT TO THE TREATIES IN THE 
PAST YEAR, NOTE THAT THE TREATIES CONTINUE TO WORK WELL, 
ENCOURAGE STATES TO CONTINUE THEIR COMPLIANCE WITH THE FOUR 
CORE TREATIES, AND ENCOURAGE STATES THAT HAVE NOT ADHERED TO 
THE FOUR CORE TREATIES TO CONSIDER DOING SO PROMPTLY. 
AT ITS 40TH SESSION, THE SUBCOMMITTEE DECIDED TO ESTABLISH A 
WORKING GROUP UNDER THIS ITEM, THE LIMITED TERMS OF REFERENCE 
OF WHICH WOULD INCLUDE THE STATUS OF PARTICIPATION IN THE 
TREATIES, REVIEW OF THEIR IMPLEMENTATION AND OBSTACLES TO 
THEIR UNIVERSAL ACCEPTANCE, AS WELL AS PROMOTION OF SPACE 
LAW, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE UN PROGRAMME ON SPACE 
APPLICATIONS.  AT THAT TIME, U.S. DELEGATION WAS SUCCESSFUL 
IN NARROWING THE MANDATE OF THE WORKING GROUP FROM THE 
ORIGINAL PROPOSAL, WHICH COULD HAVE INCLUDED CONSIDERATION OF 
A UNIVERSAL SPACE TREATY.  AT ITS 41ST SESSION, THE 
SUBCOMMITTEE AGREED THAT THIS WORKING GROUP COULD CONSIDER 
NEW ISSUES, PROVIDED THAT THOSE ISSUES FELL WITHIN THE 
EXISTING MANDATE OF THE WORKING GROUP. 
THE WORKING GROUP WAS RECONVENED IN 2008. IT WAS AGREED TO 
RECONVENE THE WORKING GROUP FOR THE 48TH SESSION AND THAT THE 
SUBCOMMITTEE WOULD REVIEW THE NEED TO EXTEND THE WORKING 
GROUP. THE U.S. DELEGATION SHOULD NOT OBJECT TO SUCH AN 
EXTENSION. 
THE SUBCOMMITTEE AGREED THAT THE WORKING GROUP WOULD CONTINUE 
CONSIDERING IN 2009 THE LOW PARTICIPATION OF STATES IN THE 
MOON AGREEMENT. IN SO DOING THE WORKING GROUP COULD ADDRESS 
ACTIVITIES CURRENTLY BEING CARRIED OUT OR TO BE CARRIED OUT 
ON THE MOON; IDENTIFY THE BENEFITS OF ADHERENCE TO THE MOON 
AGREEMENT; IDENTIFY THE INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL RULES 
GOVERNING ACTIVITIES ON THE MOON; AND ASSESS WHETHER EXISTING 
INTERNATIONAL RULES ADEQUATELY ADDRESS ACTIVITIES ON THE 
MOON. THE SECRETARIAT WILL ALSO PREPARE A BACKGROUND PAPER ON 
THE ABOVE TOPICS BASED PRIMARILY ON INFORMATION PROVIDED BY 
MEMBER STATES. THE U.S. DELEGATION WILL DELIVER A STATEMENT 
IN THE WORKING GROUP ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES. 
¶8. AGENDA ITEM 5 - ACTIVITIES OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS 
RELATING TO SPACE LAW:  THE U.S. DELEGATION SHOULD REITERATE 
U.S. CONCERN THAT SOME MAJOR INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS 
INVOLVED IN SPACE ACTIVITIES ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THE CORE 
SPACE TREATIES BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH OF THEIR MEMBER COUNTRIES 
ARE PARTIES. 
¶9. AGENDA ITEM 6 - DELIMITATION OF OUTER SPACE/USE OF 
GEOSTATIONARY ORBIT (GSO): THE U.S. DELEGATION WILL CONTINUE 
TO OPPOSE ANY PROPOSALS TO DEFINE OR DELIMIT OUTER SPACE, OR 
TO ESTABLISH ANY NEW LEGAL STATUS OR RULES APPLICABLE TO THE 
GSO, OR TO RECOGNIZE ANY SPECIAL INTERESTS OF EQUATORIAL 
STATES IN THE GSO.  THE U.S. DELEGATION MAY POINT OUT THAT 
MANY YEARS OF DEBATE HAVE NOT FURTHERED LSC UNDERSTANDING OF 
THE DELIMITATION ISSUES AND THAT NO REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS HAVE 
ARISEN OVER THE MORE THAN 40 YEARS OF SPACE USE AND 
EXPLORATION FROM THE ABSENCE OF ANY DEFINITION/DELIMITATION 
OF OUTER SPACE.  TO THE CONTRARY, ATTEMPTS TO ESTABLISH AN 
ARBITRARY LINE BETWEEN AIRSPACE AND OUTER SPACE MAY CREATE 
CONFUSION OR OTHERWISE HINDER THE PEACEFUL USE AND 
EXPLORATION OF SPACE.  FAA LICENSING AND REGULATION OF 
REUSABLE LAUNCH VEHICLES INCLUDING SUBORBITAL VEHICLES HAVE 
NOT BEEN HAMPERED BY THE ABSENCE OF ANY DELIMITATION OF OUTER 
SPACE. (IF ASKED: IN CLARIFYING ITS LICENSING AUTHORITY OVER 
LAUNCH OF A LAUNCH VEHICLE, THE FAA DEFINES LAUNCH OF A 
SUBORBITAL ROCKET USING THE LAWS OF PHYSICS AND DOES NOT RELY 
UPON ALTITUDE OR OTHER DISCRIMINATOR IN DIFFERENTIATING 
LAUNCH VEHICLES FROM CIVIL AIRCRAFT. FURTHER, A SUBORBITAL 
ROCKET IS DEFINED BY STATUTE AS A VEHICLE, ROCKET PROPELLED 
IN WHOLE OR IN PART, INTENDED FOR FLIGHT ON A SUBORBITAL 
TRAJECTORY, AND THE THRUST OF WHICH IS GREATER THAN ITS LIFT 
FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE ROCKET-POWERED PORTION OF ITS ASCENT.) 
WITH RESPECT TO THE USE OF THE GSO, THE UNITED STATES REJECTS 
ANY CLAIMS TO SOVEREIGNTY BY ANY NATION OVER OUTER SPACE AND 
OPPOSES ANY INITIATIVE TO CREATE A REGIME THAT WOULD PROVIDE 
A BASIS FOR A CLAIM TO THE GSO.  TO THE EXTENT THAT OTHER 
NATIONS RAISE "EQUITABLE ACCESS" ISSUES, THE U.S. DELEGATION 
SHOULD WORK WITH LIKE-MINDED DELEGATIONS AND, AS APPROPRIATE, 
WITH THE INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMINUCATION UNION (ITU) AND 
OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION REPS PRESENT TO SEEK TO 
PREVENT ANY ACTION IN THE LSC THAT COULD UNDERMINE THE 
POSITION OF SPACEFARING NATIONS ON THIS ISSUE AT THE ITU. THE 
ITU CONSTITUTION, CONVENTION AND RADIO REGULATIONS, AS WELL 
AS THE CURRENT PROCEDURES UNDER THOSE AUTHORITIES FOR 
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AMONG COUNTRIES AND GROUPS OF 
COUNTRIES WITH RESPECT TO THE GEOSTATIONARY AND OTHER ORBITS, 
FULLY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE INTERESTS OF STATES IN THE USE OF 
THE GEOSTATIONARY ORBIT AND THE RADIO FREQUENCY SPECTRUM. 
THE DELEGATION SHOULD NOTE THAT THE LEGAL SUBCOMMITTEE DOES 
RETAIN JURISDICTION OVER THIS ISSUE, ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO 
NEED FOR ANY ACTION AT THE PRESENT TIME. 
 
¶10.  AGENDA ITEM 7 - NUCLEAR POWER SOURCES (NPS) IN OUTER 
SPACE: THE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SUBCOMMITTEE (STSC) 
COMPLETED A MULTI-YEAR WORK PLAN ON THIS TOPIC AT ITS 2003 
SESSION.  AT THE 2003 SESSION, THE STSC ALSO ADOPTED A NEW 
MULTI-YEAR WORK PLAN ON NPS THAT WAS CO-SPONSORED BY THE 
UNITED STATES.  THAT NEW WORK PLAN, WHICH WAS TO RUN THROUGH 
2006, CONSISTED OF EFFORTS TO &ESTABLISH THE OBJECTIVES, 
SCOPE AND ATTRIBUTES OF AN INTERNATIONAL, TECHNICALLY-BASED 
FRAMEWORK OF GOALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE SAFETY OF 
PLANNED AND CURRENTLY FORESEEABLE SPACE NUCLEAR POWER SOURCE 
APPLICATIONS.8  IN 2005, THE STSC EXTENDED THE MULTI-YEAR 
NPS WORK PLAN TO 2007 TO ALLOW MORE TIME FOR THE SUBCOMMITTEE 
TO WORK ON THIS TOPIC.  IN 2007, THE STSC COMPLETED ITS WORK 
TO DEVELOP THE OBJECTIVES, SCOPE, AND ATTRIBUTES OF A SAFETY 
FRAMEWORK AND REACHED CONSENSUS TO PURSUE A JOINT EFFORT WITH 
THE IAEA TO DEVELOP AN INTERNATIONAL SAFETY FRAMEWORK OVER 
THE NEXT THREE YEARS.  THE STSC APPROVED A NEW WORK PLAN THAT 
CALLED FOR A JOINT GROUP OF EXPERTS DRAWING FROM INTERESTED 
STSC MEMBER STATES AND THE IAEA TO DEVELOP THE FRAMEWORK FOR 
APPROVAL BY THE STSC AND THE IAEA.  AT THE LAST SESSION OF 
THE STSC, CONSENSUS WAS REACHED ON THE FRAMEWORK.  IT IS 
EXPECTED THAT THE IAEA WILL ENDORSE THE FRAMEWORK IN APRIL 
OPENING THE WAY FOR ADOPTION BY COPUOS IN JUNE. IN THE LEGAL 
SUBCOMMITTEE, THE U.S. DELEGATION SHOULD TAKE THE POSITION 
THAT THERE IS NO PRESENT REASON FOR THE LSC TO ADDRESS THIS 
TOPIC IN ANY SUBSTANTIVE MANNER IN VIEW OF THE ACTIVITY 
ONGOING IN THE STSC. FURTHER, THE SAFETY FRAMEWORK FOR 
NUCLEAR POWER SOURCE APPLICATIONS IN OUTER SPACE IS NOT BEING 
DRAFTED AS A LEGALLY BINDING DOCUMENT AND THAT FACT HAS BEEN 
NOTED REPEATEDLY THROUGHOUT ITS DEVELOPMENT.  THE U.S. 
DELEGATION SHOULD OPPOSE ANY PROPOSAL THAT IT BELIEVES COULD 
IMPEDE THE U.S. ABILITY TO DEVELOP AND USE THESE SYSTEMS, AS 
SPECIFIED IN OUR NATIONAL SPACE POLICY AND OPPOSE ANY 
PROPOSAL THAT THE FRAMEWORK BECOME A LEGALLY BINDING 
DOCUMENT. THE U.S. DELEGATION ALSO MAY DRAW UPON THE 
FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL POINTS AS NECESSARY: 
 
SHOULD THE LSC TAKE UP THE NEWLY ADOPTED FRAMEWORK AS AN 
AGENDA TOPIC? 
 
--THE FRAMEWORK PROVIDES VOLUNTARY, HIGH-LEVEL GUIDANCE THAT 
ADDRESSES NUCLEAR SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS FOR RELEVANT LAUNCH, 
OPERATIONS AND END-OF-SERVICE MISSION PHASES OF SPACE NUCLEAR 
POWER APPLICATIONS, AND AS SUCH, PRESENTS NO LEGAL ISSUES FOR 
THE LSC TO ADDRESS. 
 
SHOULD THE LSC  RE-OPEN, THE PRINCIPLES GIVEN THE ADOPTION 
OF THE SAFETY FRAMEWORK? 
 
--THE PREFACE TO THE FRAMEWORK EXPLICITLY STATES THAT IT 
NEITHER ALTERS NOR SUPPLEMENTS EXISTING TREATIES OR 
PRINCIPLES; THEREFORE, NO RATIONALE EXISTS FOR REOPENING THE 
LSC,S DISCUSSION OF THE PRINCIPLES BASED ON THE ADOPTION OF 
THE FRAMEWORK. 
 
--THE STSC, WHILE HAVING ADOPTED THE FRAMEWORK, HAS DIRECTED 
THE NPS WORKING GROUP TO HOLD INTERSESSIONAL DISCUSSIONS IN 
ADVANCE OF THE STSC FEBRUARY 2010 MEETING TO CONSIDER NEW 
WORK WITHIN THE STSC THAT COULD ENHANCE THE SAFETY OF SPACE 
NPS APPLICATIONS. 
 
--SUCH DISCUSSIONS, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A NEW STSC NPS 
WORKING GROUP WORK PLAN, INDICATE THAT FURTHER WORK IN 
ESTABLISHING A FIRM SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL FOUNDATION FOR 
NPS MAY STILL EXIST; CONSEQUENTLY, IT IS PREMATURE TO ADDRESS 
REVISING THE 1992 PRINCIPLES TO THE LSC. 
 
¶11.  AGENDA ITEM 8 - SPACE ASSETS PROTOCOL: INDICATIVE OF THE 
CONTINUED INTEREST IN EXPANDING COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY AND 
AVAILABILITY OF PRIVATE SECTOR FINANCE IN SPACE IS THE WORK 
BEING DONE BY THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR THE UNIFICATION 
OF PRIVATE LAW (UNIDROIT), AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL BODY 
HEADQUARTERED IN ROME.  IN NOVEMBER 2001, A DIPLOMATIC 
CONFERENCE OF UNIDROIT MEMBERS ADOPTED A CONVENTION ON 
INTERNATIONAL INTERESTS IN MOBILE EQUIPMENT AND A PROTOCOL 
THERETO ON AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT.  THIS CONVENTION PROVIDES FOR 
THE CREATION OF NEW INTERNATIONAL FINANCE RIGHTS AND 
REGISTRATION OF SECURED FINANCE INTERESTS IN HIGH-VALUE 
MOBILE EQUIPMENT. THE UNITED STATES HAS RATIFIED BOTH THE 
CONVENTION AND THE AIRCRAFT FINANCE PROTOCOL, AND THE TREATY 
ALREADY COVERS OVER HALF OF THE WORLD,S TRANSACTIONS ON 
LARGER COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT. 
 
INTER-GOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO RESUME AT 
UNIDROIT ON A PROTOCOL THAT WOULD CONCERN SPACE ASSETS AND 
THAT WOULD FACILITATE ASSET-BASED FINANCING OF SPACE 
ACTIVITIES. FURTHER INTERGOVERNMENTAL MEETINGS WEREDEFERRED 
WHILE A SECOND PROTOCOL WAS CONCLUDED COVERING RAILWAY 
INTERESTS. NOW THAT THAT HAS BEEN DONE, INFORMAL MEETINGS 
WILL START UP AGAIN IN MAY 2009 BETWEEN KEY SPACE FARING 
STATES AND SPACE-BASED INTERESTS TWO SUCH MEETINGE WERE HELD 
IN 2008 IN BERLIN WHICH EVIDENCED CONSIDERABLE SUPPORT FOR 
THE PROTOCOL, ALTHOUGH SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS REMAIN ON WHICH 
CONSENSUS HAS NOT BEEN REACHED. 
 
UNRESOLVED ISSUES INCLUDE HOW TO DEAL WITH PUBLIC SERVICES 
(YET TO BE DEFINED).  GIVEN THE DEFERENCE ALREADY IN THE 
DRAFT TEXT TO NATIONAL REGULATORY REGIMES (SUPPORTED BY THE 
UNITED STATES, SO THAT NO LIMITATIONS WOULD BE CREATED, FOR 
EXAMPLE, TO FCC,S LICENSING AND INTERAGENCY REPSONSIBILITIES 
OR THE APPLICATION OF EXPORT OR TECHNOLOGY CONTROLS), 
CONCERNS HAVE BEEN RAISED BY THE SPACE INDUSTRY THAT IF 
ECONOMICALLY UNMANAGEABLE OBLIGATIONS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC 
SERVICES ARE ALSO INCLUDED, THE RISKS MAY WELL OUTWEIGH THE 
POTENTIAL BENEFIT OF THE PROTOCOL. OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDE THE 
FINANCING TREATMENT OF COMPONENTS WITHIN SPACE CRAFTS AND THE 
TREATMENT OF SATELLITE GROUPS OR CONSTELLATIONS FOR FINANCING 
PURPOSES. 
 
UNIDROIT HAS THROUGHOUT SOUGHT INPUT FROM COPUOS.  THE 
SUBCOMMITTEE HAS BEEN CONSIDERING THE SPACE ASSETS PROTOCOL 
AS A SINGLE ISSUE ITEM.  THE UN OFFICE FOR OUTER SPACE 
AFFAIRS (UNOOSA) AND UNIDROIT SECRETARIATS REMAIN IN 
CONSULTATION ON THESE MATTERS, A PROCESS THE UNITED STATES 
HAS SUPPORTED. 
 
THE USG REMAINS SUPPORTIVE OF THE GOALS OF THE PROPOSED SPACE 
ASSETS PROTOCOL, AND THE UNIDROIT PROJECT ENJOYS SUPPORT FROM 
THE U.S. PRIVATE SECTOR AS A MEANS TO MAKE MORE PRIVATE 
SECTOR CAPITAL MARKET FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR COMMERCIAL SPACE 
ACTIVITIES. 
 
IT IS OUR VIEW, WHICH HAS BEEN GENERALLY ACCEPTED, THAT THE 
SPACE ASSETS PROTOCOL SHOULD STATE CLEARLY THAT IT WILL NOT 
AFFECT STATE PARTY RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE OUTER 
SPACE TREATIES OR THE INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION 
UNION,S TREATY REGIME. IN ADDITION, THE UNITED STATES SHOULD 
ENSURE THAT THE SPACE ASSETS PROTOCOL CONTINUES TO STATE 
CLEARLY THAT IT DEFERS TO DOMESTIC REGULATORY PROCESSES 
RELATING TO SPACE ACTIVITIES.  THESE POINTS ENJOY SUBSTANTIAL 
SUPPORT FROM OTHER DEGATIONS BOTH AT COPUOS AND AT UNIDROIT. 
 
IN REGARD TO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TERMS OF THE DRAFT 
PROTOCOL AND RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF STATES UNDER THE OUTER 
SPACE LEGAL REGIME, A NUMBER OF DELEGATIONS HAVE PREVIOUSLY 
STATED THAT THERE WAS NO APPARENT CONFLICT BETWEEN THE TWO 
TREATY REGIMES, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH THE U.S. POSITION. 
MOREOVER, NO OTHER STATE IDENTIFIED A PARTICULAR CONFLICT, 
ALTHOUGH RUSSIA AND INDIA EXPRESSED THE VIEW THAT IN CERTAIN 
UNDEFINED CIRCUMSTANCES, THERE COULD BE CONTRADICTIONS 
BETWEEN THE TWO REGIMES. 
 
WITH REGARD TO PREVIOUS PROPOSALS THAT THE UN SECGEN 
(EFFECTIVELY OOSA) MIGHT SERVE AS A SUPERVISING AUTHORITY FOR 
A NEW REGISTRY OF FINANCIAL INTERESTS TO BE ESTABLISHED UNDER 
THE PROTCOL, THAT HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN IN VIEW OF THE LACK OF 
CONSENSUS.  WE DO NOT FORESEE RESURRECTION OF THIS PROPOSAL 
AT THIS POINT.  PREVIOUSLY, AN AD HOC OPEN-ENDED WORKING 
GROUP ON THE FUTURE FINANCE REGISTRY, CHAIRED BY THE 
NETHERLANDS, AS WELL AS CANADA, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, FRANCE, 
GERMANY, HUNGARY, ITALY, SPAIN, SWEDEN, AND THE UNITED STATES 
SUBMITTED A DRAFT UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING 
THE SECGEN TO ASSUME THE FUNCTION OF SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY, 
WHICH FAILED TO GAIN CONSENSUS.  RUSSIA, INDIA, GREECE, AND 
ARGENTINA WERE AMONG THE STATES OBJECTING TO THE UN SERVING 
AS THE SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY. 
 
THE ITEM WAS RETAINED AS A SINGLE ISSUE ITEM FOR 2009 TO 
ALLOW GENERAL REVIEW OF SUCH ISSUES AS MAY BE RELEVANT. SINCE 
DELIBERATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO RESUME AGAIN IN 2009, IT WOULD 
BE APPROPRIATE TO RETAIN THIS AS A SINGLE ISSUE ITEM. 
 
¶12.  AGENDA ITEM 9 ) CAPACITY BUILDING IN SPACE LAW: THE 
SUBCOMMITTEE TOOK UP THIS ITEM FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2008 
WITH A VIEW TO PROMOTING COOPERATION WITH AND ASSISTANCE TO 
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IN ESTABLISHING PROGRAMS AIMED TO CREATE 
A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL SPACE 
LAW. THE U.S. DELEGATION WILL GIVE A STATEMENT ON THIS TOPIC. 
THE SUBCOMMITTEE ALSO AGREED TO REVIEW THE POSSIBILITY OF 
EXTENDING THE ITEM BEYOND THIS SESSION. THE U.S. DELEGATION 
SHOULD NOT OBJECT IF SO PROPOSED. 
 
¶13.  AGENDA ITEM 10 ) GENERAL EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION ON 
NATIONAL MECHANISMS RELATING TO SPACE DEBRIS MITIGATION 
MEASURES: ON THE BASIS OF A U.S. PROPOSAL, THE SUBCOMMITTEE 
AGREED TO INCLUDE THIS TOPIC AS A SINGLE ISSUE ITEM BEGINNING 
AT THIS SESSION. THE ITEM WILL PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR 
MEMBER STATES TO REPORT ON MECHANISMS THEY ARE USING TO 
IMPLEMENT DEBRIS MITIGATION MEASURES BASED ON THE GUIDELINES 
ADOPTED BY THE IADC AND THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY. THE 
U.S.DELEGATION WILL MAKE A STATEMENT ON THIS TOPIC. THE U.S. 
DELEGATION SHOULD NOT OBJECT IF IT IS PROPOSED TO CONSIDER 
THIS TOPIC NEXT YEAR. 
 
¶14. AGENDA ITEM 11 - GENERAL EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION ON 
NATIONAL LEGISLATION RELEVANT TO THE PEACEFUL EXPLORATION AND 
USE OF OUTER SPACE: ON THE BASIS OF A U.S. PROPOSAL, THE 
SUBCOMMITTEE AGREED IN 2007 ON A MULTIYEAR WORK PLAN TO 
EXCHANGE INFORMATION ON NATIONAL LEGISLATION RELATED TO SPACE 
ACTIVITIES. THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PLAN HAD MEMBER STATES 
PRESENT INFORMATION ON THEIR NATIONAL LEGISLATION RELATED TO 
GOVERNMENTAL AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL SPACE ACTIVITIES. THE 
UNITED STATES SUBMITTED A PAPER ON U.S. LEGISLATION TO THE 
SUBCOMMITTEE.  UNDER THE WORK PLAN, A WORKING GROUP WILL BE 
ESTABLISHED AT THIS SESSION TO EXAMINE THE INFORMATION 
PROVIDED LAST YEAR IN ORDER TO DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING OF 
THE MANNER IN WHICH MEMBER STATES HAVE REGULATED GOVERNMENTAL 
AND NONGOVERNMENTAL SPACE ACTIVITIES. THE U.S. DELEGATION 
WILL MAKE A STATEMENT ON THIS TOPIC. 
 
¶15. AGENDA ITEM 12 - PROPOSALS FOR NEW ITEMS: UNDER THE 1999 
AGENDA REFORM PACKAGE, FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS WILL TAKE ONE OF 
TWO FORMS, BOTH OF WHICH MUST BE APPROVED BY THE FULL 
COMMITTEE.  FIRST, THE LSC CAN PROPOSE DISCUSSIONS OF TOPICS 
LIMITED TO A SINGLE YEAR, EITHER FOR A LIMITED EXCHANGE OF 
INFORMATION AND VIEWS, OR TO ASSESS WHETHER THERE IS SUPPORT 
AND JUSTIFICATION FOR ADDITIONAL WORK.  SECOND, MORE 
SUBSTANTIAL PROJECTS CAN BE UNDERTAKEN THROUGH MULTI-YEAR 
WORK PROGRAMS OF SET DURATION.  THE U.S. DELEGATION WILL 
SUPPORT THE CONTINUANCE OF TWO EXISTING ONE-YEAR AGENDA 
ITEMS, SPECIFICALLY THE CONTINUED CONSIDERATION OF THE 
UNIDROIT SPACE ASSETS PROTOCOL AND THE CONTINUED TRACKING OF 
THE WORK OF THE STSC CONCERNING NPS.  WE ANTICIPATE THAT 
THERE MAY BE PROPOSALS FROM OTHER DELEGATIONS. USDEL SHOULD 
WORK WITH OTHER KEY DELEGATIONS IN ORDER TO OPPOSE, DEFER, 
MODIFY, OR REFINE PROPOSALS TO MAKE THEM CONSISTENT WITH U.S. 
INTERESTS. THE U.S. DELEGATION SHOULD SEEK GUIDANCE FROM 
WASHINGTON ON AREAS NOT COVERED BY THIS DELEGATION GUIDANCE. 
 
AT THE LAST SESSION, MANY DELEGATIONS EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT 
THE SUBCOMMITTEE WILL BE IN NEED OF NEW SUBSTANTIVE ITEMS. IN 
THE PAST, WE HAVE SUCCEEDED IN BROKERING CONSENSUS ON NEW 
ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN USEFUL, E.G., LAUNCHING STATE, 
REGISTRATION PRACTICE, THE UNIDROIT SPACE ASSETS PROTOCOL, 
AND, NOW, INFORMATION ON NATIONAL LEGISLATION, AND 
IMPLEMENTATION OF DEBRIS MITIGATION GUIDELINES. FOR THE MOST 
PART, HOWEVER, THE EXISTING LIST OF PAST PROPOSALS HOLDS NO 
PROMISE FOR CONSENSUS. THE UNITED STATES HAS AN AFFIRMATIVE 
INTEREST IN HAVING THE LSC FOCUS ON EXCHANGES OF INFORMATION 
AND PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS, RATHER THAN ABSTRACT 
THEORETICAL ISSUES. 
 
ANTICIPATED PROPOSALS FOR NEW ITEMS FROM OTHER DELEGATIONS: 
BASED ON LAST YEAR,S LSC SESSION, WE ANTICIPATE THAT OTHER 
DELEGATIONS WILL REITERATE THE FOLLOWING PROPOSALS FOR NEW 
AGENDA ITEMS: 
 
-- LEGAL ASPECTS OF SPACE APPLICATIONS FOR GLOBAL CLIMATE 
CHANGE (PROPOSED BY CHILE) 
 
-- APPROPRIATENESS AND DESIRABILITY OF DRAFTING A UNIVERSAL 
COMPREHENSIVE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL SPACE LAW (PROPOSED 
BY CHINA, GREECE, RUSSIA, AND UKRAINE) 
 
-- REVIEW OF PRINCIPLES GOVERNING THE USE BY STATES OF 
ARTIFICIAL EARTH SATELLITES FOR INTERNATIONAL DIRECT TV 
BROADCASTING WITH A VIEW TOWARD A POSSIBLE FUTURE TREATY 
(PROPOSED BY GREECE) 
 
-- DISCUSSION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL 
CONVENTION ON REMOTE SENSING (PROPOSED BY ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, 
CHILE, COLOMBIA, CUBA, EDUADOR, GREECE, MEXICO, AND PERU) 
 
THE U.S. DELEGATION SHOULD SEEK TO OBTAIN MORE DETAILS ABOUT 
THIS LAST ITEM, AND SHOULD CONSULT WITH WASHINGTON PRIOR TO 
AGREEING TO ITS INCLUSION ON NEXT YEAR,S AGENDA. 
 
DURING THE 50TH SESSION OF COPUOS, THE CHAIRMAN, GERARD 
BRACHET, PROPOSED THAT THE COMMITTEE THROUGH THE STSC COULD 
CONSIDER MEASURES THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN TO SUSTAIN LONG-TERM 
ACCESS TO AND USE OF OUTER SPACE BEARING IN MIND THE 
INCREASING NUMBER OF GOVERNMENTAL AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ACTORS 
ENGAGED IN SPACE ACTIVITIES. (THE USG IS GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE 
OF THE PROPOSAL AND HAS PARTICIPATED IN INFORMAL 
CONSULTATIONS HOSTED BY FRANCE. SHOULD THIS TOPIC COME UP IN 
THE COURSE OF THE LSC, THE U.S. DELEGATION SHOULD REITERATE 
ITS VIEW THAT THE MATTER IS STILL THE SUBJECT OF INFORMAL 
CONSULTATIONS AND THAT IT IS ONE THAT CAN ONLY BE CONSIDERED 
IN THE STSC. SEE REFTEL A, GUIDANCE FOR THE LAST SESSION OF 
THE STSC, FOR FURTHER BACKGROUND. 
 
¶16. REGARDING THE ANTICIPATED PROPOSAL ON THE APPROPRIATENESS 
AND DESIRABILITY OF DRAFTING A COMPREHENSIVE CONVENTION ON 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE LAW, U.S. DELEGATION SHOULD EMPHASIZE 
THAT THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT SUPPORT THE CONSIDERATION OF 
NEGOTIATION OF A UNIVERSAL SPACE TREATY. THIS PROPOSAL HAS A 
LONG HISTORY, HAVING ORIGINATED WITH RUSSIA PRIOR TO THE 39TH 
SESSION OF COPUOS. AT THE 39TH SESSION OF THE LSC, URGING BY 
THE RUSSIANS GARNERED SUBSTANTIAL SUPPORT FROM THE G-77 AND 
EASTERN EUROPEANS, HOWEVER, THE U.S. DELEGATION WAS 
SUCCESSFUL IN KEEPING IT OFF THE LSC AGENDA.  AT THE 41ST 
SESSION OF THE LSC, RUSSIA WAS UNABLE TO GENERATE SUBSTANTIAL 
INTEREST (ASIDE FROM BRAZIL, UKRAINE, ARGENTINA, CHINA, 
COLOMBIA, AND GREECE) IN ITS PROPOSAL. WITHIN THE WESTERN 
GROUP, DELEGATIONS AGREED THAT THE SUGGESTION WAS UNREALISTIC 
AND WOULD UNDERMINE EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE GREATER ADHERENCE TO 
THE EXISTING TREATY REGIME.  THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY (ESA) 
COUNTRIES EXPRESSED THE VIEW THAT IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO 
CODIFY LARGE CHUNKS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW, BUT DEALING WITH 
SPECIFIC ISSUES THROUGH NON-BINDING SETS OF PRINCIPLES (AS 
HAS BEEN THE PRACTICE OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES) WAS A MORE 
EFFECTIVE APPROACH.  IF RUSSIA OR LIKE-MINDED DELEGATIONS 
PROPOSE THE CONSIDERATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE CONVENTION, 
USDEL SHOULD SEEK TO WORK WITH LIKE-MINDED DELEGATIONS TO 
EMPHASIZE THE UNACCEPTABILITY OF INITIATING ANY NEGOTIATIONS 
ON A UNIVERSAL SPACE TREATY.  IT SHOULD ALSO EMPHASIZE THAT 
RUSSIA,S ACADEMIC INTEREST IN RE-WRITING THE SPACE TREATIES 
WOULD BE A SERIOUS IMPEDIMENT TO THE PROGRESS THE LSC IS 
MAKING ON OTHER FRONTS. 
 
¶17. THE PROPOSAL BY GRULAC STATES TO DEVELOP A CONVENTION ON 
REMOTE SENSING WAS INITIALLY RAISED IN 2002.  IN 2003, IN 
RESPONSE TO THE 2002 DISCUSSION, BRAZIL PRESENTED A DETAILED 
PAPER AS TO WHY SUCH A CONVENTION IS NECESSARY AND DESIRABLE. 
USDEL WORKED CLOSELY WITH JAPAN, CANADA, AND FRANCE IN 
CONVINCING BRAZIL THAT CONSENSUS COULD NOT BE REACHED ON 
BRAZIL,S SUGGESTION TO REVIEW THE 1986 PRINCIPLES ON REMOTE 
SENSING. THE BRAZILIAN DELEGATION AGREED TO WITHDRAW THE 
PROPOSAL BUT NOTED IN A DETAILED STATEMENT THAT 1) THE 
ORIGINAL IDEA PRESENTED IN 2002 OF DRAFTING A NEW CONVENTION 
ON REMOTE SENSING WAS TOO AMBITIOUS AND RAISED MANY 
UNDERSTANDABLE CONCERNS; 2) THE PRESENT PROPOSAL OF REVIEWING 
THE PRINCIPLES WAS NOT INTENDED TO REOPEN THEM; AND 3) BRAZIL 
STRONGLY SUPPORTS COMMERCIAL REMOTE SENSING ACTIVITIES AND 
PROMOTING THE USE OF THAT TECHNOLOGY.  IF RAISED AGAIN, U.S. 
DELEGATION SHOULD OPPOSE ANY MOVE TO REVIEW, CHANGE, OR STUDY 
THE PRINCIPLES RELATING TO REMOTE SENSING OF THE EARTH FROM 
OUTER SPACE AND MAKE CLEAR THAT THE UNITED STATES WILL NOT 
JOIN CONSENSUS ON ANY MOVE TO REVIEW, STUDY OR DEVELOP A 
CONVENTION ON REMOTE SENSING. USDEL SHOULD STRESS THAT THE 
PRINCIPLES ARE WORKING WELL AND DO NOT NEED TO BE REVIEWED OR 
CHANGED. 
 
THE U.S. DELEGATION MAY ALSO DRAW ON THE FINDINGS OF THE 
INTERNATIONAL LAW ASSOCIATION (AN OBSERVER MEMBER OF COPUOS) 
THAT EXPLAIN WHY A TREATY IS NOT THE APPROPRIATE MECHANISM, 
BUT STATE RATHER THAT THIS ISSUE IS BETTER ADDRESSED THROUGH 
NATIONAL MEANS. IN 1982, THE UNGA ADOPTED BY VOTE A SET OF 
NON-BINDING PRINCIPLES ON THE USE BY STATES OF SATELLITES FOR 
DIRECT TV BROADCAST.  THE UNITED STATES VOTED AGAINST THE 
RESOLUTION.  CONSEQUENTLY, WE WOULD NOT SUPPORT REVIEWING 
THOSE PRINCIPLES WITH A VIEW TO NEGOTIATING A TREATY BASED ON 
THAT TEXT. 
 
¶18.  IN DISCUSSING POTENTIAL DISCUSSION ITEMS AND/OR ITEMS 
WITH WORK PLANS, THE FOLLOWING CONSIDERATIONS SHOULD BE KEPT 
IN MIND: 
 
-- AS NOTED ABOVE, IN 1999, COPUOS ADOPTED A REVISED AGENDA 
STRUCTURE INTENDED TO REVITALIZE LSC DISCUSSION BY PROVIDING 
STRUCTURED OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPANDED SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSIONS 
OF LEGAL ISSUES SUCH AS THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH 
COMMERCIALIZATION.  ANY SUCH DISCUSSIONS WOULD BE FOR THE 
PURPOSE OF CLARIFYING ISSUES AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS, WITH NO 
IMPLICATION THAT THE DISCUSSIONS WILL NECESSARILY LEAD TO THE 
DEVELOPMENT OF LEGAL PRINCIPLES OR STANDARDS. 
 
-- GIVEN THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE IN REFORMING THE UN 
GENERALLY AND THE LSC IN PARTICULAR, MAINTAINING U.S. 
LEADERSHIP IN THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND COHESION AMONG THE G-8 
COUNTRIES IN OUTER SPACE AFFAIRS ARE CRITICAL AND SHOULD BE 
TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN THE U.S. DELEGATION,S WORK ON OTHER 
PROPOSALS. 
 
-- THE U.S. DELEGATION SHOULD OPPOSE ANY PROPOSALS THAT IT 
BELIEVES WOULD IMPEDE TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS AND ACCESS 
TO SPACE, OR WOULD BE QUESTIONABLE IN TERMS OF U.S. FOREIGN 
POLICY AND NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS AND THE U.S. NATIONAL 
SPACE POLICY. 
CLINTON