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RR RUEHSK RUEHSL
DE RUCNDT #0995/01 3092330
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 052330Z NOV 09
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7536
INFO RUCNDSC/DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE COLLECTIVE
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RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0296

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000995 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CD CDG KN PARM PREL UNGA
SUBJECT: 64TH UNGA/FIRST COMMITTEE THEMATIC DEBATE: OUTER 
SPACE 
 
1.(U) The UN Disarmament and International Security Committee 
(First Committee) conducted its thematic debate on the 
cluster of resolutions on outer space on October 19.  All 
states advocated for the peaceful uses of outerspace, and 
most supported movement towards a treaty or code of conduct 
on the issue.  Japan exercised right of reply over statements 
by the DPRK about its offensive military policies in space, 
and China stated that its satellite missile test was a 
scientific experiment, not a military operation as the U.S. 
had stated. 
 
¶2. Sweden on Behalf of the EU 
 
(U) Sweden said the EU wants to prevent an arms race in 
outerspace.  It proposed a voluntary code of conduct by 
states that would "strengthen safety security and 
predictability of all space activities."  Such a code would 
limit or minimize harmful interference, collisions or 
accidents in outer space, as well as the creation of debris. 
 
¶3. Cuba 
 
(U) Cuba noted the legal instruments about outerspace, 
including a partial test-ban treaty and a treaty to govern 
activities on the moon and other celestial bodies.  It 
advocated a prohibition of WMD and military activities in 
outerspace and a conference on the issue towards a new treaty 
on weapons in outer space. 
 
¶4. China 
 
(U) China noted that the current system only limits nuclear 
weapons in space, not the use of force in outerspace.  It 
advocated for states  to seize the opportunity in the 
Conference on Disarmament (CD) to clarify international 
consensus on the topic.  China hoped that the CD would begin 
early negotiations on a treaty to prevent arms from reaching 
outer space. 
 
¶5. Canada 
 
(U) Canada said it supports work towards the safe uses of 
outerspace.  It stated that space security need to encompass 
not only the environmental, commercial and civil dimensions 
of space but also its military and national security 
dimensions.  It believes in preventive diplomacy to "ensure 
that space will be secure from physical threats." 
 
¶6. Republic of Korea 
 
(U) ROK stated that it is important that outerspace is 
peaceful because of its frequency of use.  It supported the 
EU's proposal for a code of conduct and advocated addressing 
it at the CD. 
 
¶7. Sri Lanka 
 
(U) Sri Lanka stated that the peaceful uses of outerspace are 
the common heritage of mankind and that current treaties do 
not adequately address this.  To this end, it said it will 
introduce a draft resolution on the prevention of an arms 
race in outerspace. 
 
¶8. Russia 
 
(U) Russia supported a working group in the CD that will work 
towards preventing an arms race in outerspace and a code of 
conduct.  Russia stated that it will present a draft 
resolution on confidence-building measures in outer space. 
 
9 DPRK 
 
(U) The DPRK stated that over 130 countries in the world use 
outerspace and that a monopoly of its use was no longer 
possible by one country.  It claimed that the U.S. was 
attempting to develop a missile-defense shield using the 
DPRK's nuclear weapon and missile development programs as an 
excuse.  The DPRK stated that due to the hostile nature of 
U.S. policy in North-east Asia it will need to strengthen its 
"defensive" nuclear capacity.  It also claimed that Japan was 
using outerspace as way of pursuing an offensive policy. 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000995  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶10. Burkina Faso 
 
(U) Burkina Faso stated that the peaceful use of outerspace 
has brought tangible economic and humanitarian benefits to 
the world and noted its opposition to any military action or 
arms race in outerspace that would interfere with its 
peaceful use. 
 
¶11. Brazil 
 
(U) Brazil advocated for the establishment of a subsidiary 
body of the CD to negotiate a multilateral agreement on the 
prevention of an arms race in outerspace.  It stated that it 
wants to keep outer space free on any weapons or the threat 
of use of force. 
 
¶12. Iran 
 
(U) Iran said it supports the peaceful use of outerspace.  It 
stated that it was forced to develop and launch satellites 
due to restrictions imposed by other states. It said that 
existing legal instruments are inadequate for preventing and 
arms race in outerspace. 
 
(U) 13. Right of Reply: Japan responded to the statement by 
the DPRK, saying  that the DPRK's reference about use of 
outerspace as a way of pursuing an offensive military policy 
was groundless.  China responded to the U.S. statement and 
defined its test as a scientific experiment.  China noted 
that its position on this subject was well known, and asked 
rhetorically which country leads in outer space weapons 
activity. 
Rice