text: spaceweapons foranypurposes orthepossession ofanytypeofarmsbasedon theuseofspaceweapons. Theyalsostressed thatArticle 51couldnotbe invoked tolegitimize theuseorthreatofuseofforceinorfromouter space. Inthiscontext, theynotedthattheobjective agreeduponby consensus, bothatmultilateral andbilateral levels, wasnottoregulate an armsraceinouterspacebuttopreventit,andthatanyattempt tojustify theintroduction ofweapons inthatenvironment contradicted thatobjective. Onedelegation statedthattherighttolegitimate self-defence enshrined in Article 51oftheCharter doesnotauthorise anystatetoextenditsmilitary powerintospacenortousethatenvironment asanarenatostation its instruments ofdestruction, endangering thesecurity andintegrity ofother states. 23.Onedelegation, amemberoftheGroupof21,stressed thatArticle IVof theOuterSpaceTreaty, contains abuilt-in limitation, asitsscopedoesnot extendtobanningalltypesofweapons inouterspace.Itprohibits, inter alia,theplacing, installing orstationing ofnuclear weapons andother weapons ofmassdestruction only.Itsprovisions donottherefore contain a clear-cut injunction toensurethatouterspaceisusedexclusively for peaceful purposes. Intheviewofthisdelegation theprinciple ofexclusive useforpeaceful purposes applies onlytotheMoonandothercelestial bodies andtheonlyrestriction placed onstatesparties pertains totheprohibition oftheestablishment ofmilitary bases,installations andfortifications, the testing ofanytypeofweapon andtheconduct ofmilitary manoeuvres on celestial bodies. Thedelegation considered thatthismeantthattherewasan inherent contradiction inthesamearticle oftheTreaty, thereby creating as aresultnotonebuttwolegalregimes -oneapplicable toouterspaceandthe otherconfined totheMoonandothercelestial bodies. Another delegation belonging tothesameGroupsharedtheseopinions andaddedthatthepeacefUl CD/1034 page11 useofouterspacemustnotbeagainst theprimordial aimofsafeguarding international peaceandsecurity, ausewhichwouldnotimplyaviolation of thefundamental principles andaimsoftheUnitedNations Charter, particularly theruleofparagraph 4ofArticle 2oftheCharter, which prohibits anyactivity whichthreatens orimplies theuseofforceagainst the territorial integrity andpolitical independence ofastate. 24.Somedelegations pointed outthatasaresultoftheworkaccomplished in thepastyears,theCommittee hadatitsdisposal asoundanalysis ofthe existing international lawofouterspaceandanumberofconstructive proposals. 25.Somedelegations observed thatwhentheOuterSpaceTreatywas negotiated, thepossibility thatspace-based anti-satellite weapons ordefence systems couldbedeveloped wasnotforeseen andtheTreaty, infact,wasa response tothechallenges thatspacetechnology created inthe1960s. One delegation stressed thatthefirstparagraph ofarticle IVoftheTreaty, represented alegalloophole exploited bythePowerstodevelop anew generation ofweapons thatcanbeplacedinouterspace. TheGroupof21, whilerecognizing thatthelegalregimeplaced somelimitations oncertain weapons andmilitary activities inouterspace,emphasized thatexisting legal instruments leftopenthepossibility oftheintroduction ofweapons inspace, otherthannuclear weapons orotherweapons ofmassdestruction. Consequently, according tothatGroupthesewerenotsufficient toprevent an armsraceinthatenvironment, particularly inviewoftherapidpaceof progress inspacescience andtechnology aswellasongoing military space programmes. ThatGroupbelieved thatthereisanurgentneedtoconsolidate, reinforce anddevelop thatregime andenhanceitseffectiveness withaviewto preventing anarmsraceinouterspace. 26.Onedelegation statedthatalthough spacelawhasavariety ofsources, including customary international law,theCharter oftheunitedNations, bilateral agreements relating toouterspaceandaseriesoftreaties addressing specific issuesofspacelaw-thecornerstoneofinternational spacelawistheOuterSpaceTreatyof1967.Scrupulous compliance withthe principles oftheTreatyhasservedtheinternational community wellinthe pastandshouldcontinue todosointhefuture. Intheviewofthis delegation, theOuterSpaceTreatycontains several provisions relevant to thoseissuesofconcern forthisCommittee. Article IVprohibits theorbiting aroundtheEarth,stationing inouterspace,orinstallation oncelestial CD/1034 page12 bodiesofnuclear weapons oranyotherkindsofweapons ofmassdestruction. Thisprovision sufficiently addresses themajorconcerns ofthecommunity of nations, whilepermitting thoseactivities necessary forminimum strategic
analysis: The text discusses the use of space weapons, the Outer Space Treaty, and the potential for an arms race in outer space. It highlights the need for international cooperation to prevent the introduction of weapons in outer space and to ensure that space is used for peaceful purposes. The text also emphasizes the importance of the Outer Space Treaty and its provisions, which prohibit the placing of nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in outer space.