Mr. Chairman,
Sweden fully stands behind the statement delivered earlier by the Netherlands on behalf of the European Union, and would like to make some additional remarks from a national perspective.
The implications of a possible weaponization of Outer Space and the risk of subsequent arms race are of great concern to my Country. While acknowledging the positive role that space technology can play in meeting the global challenges to human development, it is a powerful tool not only for welfare but potentially also for warfare.
The legal regime for Outer Space provides fundamental rules on international responsibility and liability for national space activities, both civil, military and for national security purposes. A set of non-binding Principles and Declarations has been added to this treaty regime, and a Code of Conduct against ballistic missile proliferation (HCOC) has been adopted. We hope that all States will adhere to the HCOC.
As the other members of the EU, Sweden supports the establishment of a subsidiary body at the Conference on Disarmament to deal with Outer Space. Sweden has suggested that - as a first step - informal technical meetings take place in the CD involving a wider range of actors in the space field, such as international organizations, space agencies, space law academia and the private sector.
The overall space sector, both civil and military, involves different stakeholders, and it would therefore be fruitful to get their different perspectives. Since space activities often are of a dual-use nature and involve cross-cutting issues between civil and military activities, future work in the CD would benefit from this overall perspective.
In line with our reform discussions last week, one additional idea could also be to invite the Secretariat (Office for Outer Space Affairs, OOSA) to brief the First Committee, either this year or next year, on the work carried out within the frame of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).
I would also like to take this opportunity to mention that the GA will consider tomorrow in plenary the follow up to UNISPACE III. A report by COPUOS has been transmitted to the GA for that review. This report provides a comprehensive and forward-looking assessment of the implementation process. It clearly demonstrates the importance and usefulness of space applications in addressing global challenges and for improving human living conditions. Sweden believes that also the First Committee and the CD would benefit from the insights it conveys.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.