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Space Widening Technology Gap
Vienna - July 20, 1999 - A monopoly on space science would bring power and wealth to privileged nations and cause hardship and deprivation to others, the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III) was warned this afternoon by the head of Indonesia's delegation to the Conference, Harijono Djojodihardjo. He proposed creation of a United Nations fund for large-scale educational opportunties, particularly in developing countries that would focus on space technology for social and economic development applications. Norway's Ambassador, Helga Heres, also expressed concern about the widening technology gap between rich and poor nations. Unless developing countries were given access to the technologies being discussed at the Conference, and on an equitable basis, they were likely to be further marginalized. At the same time, she added, developing countries must also develop their own capacities to use those technologies. On the same theme, the Ambassador of Uganda, Semakula Kiwanuka, said the abundant space-related benefits should be made available to developing countries. Africa needed a critical mass of men and women who were capable of utilizing and building on existing knowledge. An enabling political and economic environment was critical in attracting investment not only to produce wealth but also to produce and retain national capacity and prevent the "brain drain". Also this afternoon, several speakers emphasized the importance of using space for peaceful purposes. Alexander Medvedchikov, the Deputy Director- General of the Russian Federation's Space Agency, stressed that space must not be used as an arena for rivalries or a testing ground for new weapons. Ensuring that space was not militarized required coordinating the world community's efforts in the peaceful uses of outer space. The United Nations was the only entity capable of assuming that task. Only the United Nations could translate the will of the international community into action, solve global problems such as environmental pollution and overpopulation, and ensure the adoption of a code of space law. New norms of space law must be created to take into account the participation of industry and other actors in space activities. Existing legal norms were created when governments were the only players, but that was no longer the case. Jog Yen Hang, Charge d'affaires of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea said some developed countries controlled the activities of the developing countries by politicizing their exploration of space. Meanwhile, they themselves used space for military purposes, creating serious threats to international peace and security. He called on the Conference to find ways and means to cope with these challenges. Statements were also made by the representatives of the Ukraine, Morocco, Canada, Indonesia, Tunisia, Uganda, Sri Lanka, Norway and Thailand. Also, representatives of the INTERSPUTNIK International Organization of Space Communications and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) spoke in their capacity as observers. The representatives of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea exercised their rights of reply.
UN Space Reports at SpaceDaily
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