In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Statement by the Delegation of

the Islamic Republic of Iran,

44^th  Scientific and Technical Subcommittee Meeting

of the

Committee of the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS)

12-23 February 2007

Vienna, Austria

Madam Chair, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, 

First of all, on behalf of the Iranian delegation I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulation to you, to chair this session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Committee of the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space as well as to thank Dr. Suresh from India to chair the 43^rd session of STS-COPUOS during the last year. I also appreciate the Director of the Office for Outer Space Affairs and his staff for working intensively to fulfill the goals of the Office as the secretariat of COPUOS.

Madam Chair,

Regarding the space based disaster management, due to its importance for the Islamic republic of Iran, we eagerly follow the trend of the progress in this connection and as in the past we are ready to cooperate with the world community in general and space technology community in particular. We believe that the promising efforts in this relation will lead to an active and powerful system for reducing the impacts of the variety of disasters threatening the lives and prosperity of humankind throughout the world.

 

I feel obliged to express condolence to the distinguished delegate of Indonesia for recent natural disaster.

In view of the International Heliophysical Year 2007, the Islamic Republic of Iran as announced before, is willing ready to contribute widely in the plans and programs scheduled for this great occasion. We anticipate that the Sun and the Solar System activity have direct effect on all natural and environmental activities and processes in Earth and more knowledge and exploration of the Sun-Earth system as well as the Solar System will enable us in acquainting with and awaring of the processes and activities taking place in Earth, whether in Earth depth or in its surface and atmosphere.

Madam Chair,

The Islamic Republic of Iran continuously supports the space applications program of the United Nations and in some fields cooperates with the United Nations namely tele-health, tele-education, disaster mitigation, public awareness and capacity building.

On the subject of the Implementation of the recommendations of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE-III), the Islamic Republic of Iran ever continues it efforts and contribution since we believe that the implementation of recommendations will be directly conducted to the sustainable development in national, regional and international levels.

In line with the promotion of the space science and technology applications, capacity building and public awareness the Islamic Republic of Iran like the previous years celebrated the World Space Week ceremonies in Iran. This year the Space Week ceremonies were held from 6th to 12th November due to coincidence of 4-10 October with holly month of Ramadan. Most important point about the ceremonies of this year was wider participation and contribution of youth and scholars in the programs of the week.

Madam Chair,

On the development of the space technology in the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Iranian Space Agency in cooperation with other relevant bodies and organizations and academic institutions follows different plans and projects that hopefully will lead to setting up, manufacturing and launch of satellites according to the demands and needs of domestic user community that covers telecommunications, data transmission, tele-medicine, tele-education, earth and environmental observation and control and so on. Since success in its plans and programs is basically prerequisites of international cooperation, therefore we welcome all nations interested in cooperation with Iran in its satellite programs although we are already cooperate with some leading countries on space science and technology.

Due its importance and vitality, the Islamic Republic of Iran gives high priority to the international cooperation in developing its space programs. One important example in this relation is joining other countries in the Asia Pacific Region to establish the Asia Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) whose convention was signed by the Minister of Communications and Information Technology on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran on 27 October 2006 in Beijing, China during the ceremony set by the government of China.

Commitment to establish a Research Center for Space based Disaster Management is another example that was proposed to the Intergovernmental Consultative Committee of RESAP late last year in South Korea. These are some indications of the Islamic Republic of Iran's willingness and interest to join the international and regional cooperation initiatives that we hope will be developed more than before.

Madam Chair,

While recognizing that we have received excellent response from our country’s human resources development plan particularly at academic level in aerospace and other related subjects, we also firmly believe that space is a mankind heritage with great potential and bless belonging to every inhabitant of our planet.

The new National Outer Space Policy of the US is a great setback on international disarmament in particular to the peaceful use of outer space. While all other members of the international community call for a treaty to prevent arms race in outer space such a policy which rejects any effort toward negotiating such a treaty would enhance the weaponization of outer space and jeopardize international peace and security."

Madam Chair,

While we do welcome scientific development on satellite imaging, this is a serious concern that the data collected from all countries, without their awareness are being transmitted to and misused by intelligence agencies of few developed countries. Therefore the national security of member states could be in jeopardy which requires due consideration of the COPUOS.

International cooperation is therefore a vital and inherent part of global efforts aiming at peaceful use of space science and technology. I assure the full cooperation of my delegation to continue our joint global efforts in this direction through UN-COPUOS.

Thank you.