GLOBAL OUTLOOK
III. IMPACT OF THE OST ON OBSERVER ORGANISATIONS OF COPUOS
(A) APSCO
APSCO was established in 2005 through a convention. It is an inter- governmental international organisation as per Article 3 of the APSCO Convention. So Article XIII of the OST is fully applicable to it. The member countries are Bangladesh, China, Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan, Peru, Thailand and Turkey. Of all these member nations, only China, Pakistan and Iran have significant space programmes as of now. It shows that APSCO being an international organisation has been established in a region that is underdeveloped in space activities. In this sense, the study of impact of the OST on APSCO is more appropriate.
(i) Promoting Peace
The first paragraph of Preamble of the Convention mentions peaceful use of space technology. The second paragraph stresses on multilateral co-operation in the Asia-Pacific region for peaceful applications of space science and technology. The last paragraph of the Preamble refers to the ‘principles of peaceful uses of outer space, mutual benefits and complementariness, equal consultations and development’. These are similar to the spirit and provisions of the OST. Articles 4 (1, 5) of the Convention provides for peaceful application of space science and technology as the objective of APSCO.
(ii) Promoting International Co-operation (a) APSCO Convention
The Convention Preamble mentions words like ‘multilateral co-operation’
or ‘regional multilateral co-operation’ which convey its international spirit.
At the same time, they also imply that a region with low awareness of space programmes first requires regional co-operation. Article 4(5) (“Objectives”) of the Convention aims to contribute to the peaceful uses of outer space in the international co-operative activities in space technology and its applications. The objective is also to provide collaborative space programmes through co-operation in the Asia-Pacific region.
Article 9(6) provides that any international organisation may enjoy the observer status with APSCO if it is granted by its Council. Not only that, the states outside the Asia-Pacific region may join as Associate Members satisfying the prescribed conditions. Article 24 provides co-operation with
other entities. The sub-section (2) states very clearly the ambit of co-operation.
The organisation could make co-operative partnership with the non-member states and different international organisations and institutions subject to the permission of APSCO Council. So the scope becomes very wide.
Thus, although APSCO is centred in the Asia-Pacific region but it is not limited to the region. In other words, just like international observer organisations centred in Western countries have members from the Asia-Pacific region, APSCO also is open to countries from other regions. Article 9(6) states that any member state of United Nations (UN) or any international organisation may be observer in the Council’s meetings. Another provision in Article 9(7) provides that any member state of UN outside the Asia-Pacific region may be Associate Member without any voting right in the Council’s meeting. Both these provisions are with the permission from APSCO Council.
It facilitates co-operation not only among countries in the Asia-Pacific region but also among other international organisations.
(b) Introductory Document of APSCO
Besides the Convention, the preface of introductory document of APSCO declares why international co-operation in space programmes is necessary especially for countries lacking in space technology and economic resources.
The simple reason is when any country does not have any space programme, they have to share the same from the countries that are enriched in space activities. And they have to follow the terms and conditions as set by the countries developed in space.
(iii) Promoting Science & Technology (a) APSCO Convention
The promotion of science and technology is mentioned in many terms directly and indirectly in the Convention text. The third paragraph of the Preamble directly states about the development of space science and technology. The objectives under Article 4(2, 3) provide for the promotion of science and technology. The basic activities (under Article 7) and optional activities (under Article 8) of APSCO have many provisions for the development of space science and technology along with education and training activities.
(b) Beijing Declaration
The Beijing Declaration 2015 is another significant document of this organisation. The fourth paragraph of its Preamble mentions the peaceful
uses of outer space through Asia-Pacific multilateral co-operation. The actions are to be implemented in order to develop capacity related to space science and technology and its education and training; and co-operation through improved sharing service capability (sharing of data etc.). Improving quick response capability and information inter-connection are aimed at better co- operation amongst Asia-Pacific countries. The text of this Declaration ends with repetition of words like ‘peaceful utilisation’, ‘mutual benefit’ for APSCO and its member states. These words are used in the OST too.
(B) ISNET
ISNET was established by nine Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) countries in 1987, and was granted the observer status in COPUOS in 2013.
Presently, it has 16 member countries, namely Bangladesh, Iraq, Indonesia, Morocco, Niger, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Azerbaijan, Senegal, Egypt and Jordan. Out of these, there are hardly four countries that have space programmes. ISNET promotes space science and technology according to the provisions of the OST.
One of the main objectives of ISNET is ‘to collaborate and co-operate with OIC member countries in the peaceful uses of outer space’. It fully supports the provisions and spirit of the OST. The rest of the objectives are drafted for developing and exchanging space science, technology and their applications.
Further, ISNET requires member countries ‘to share their experiences, research studies and developments in space sciences and applications in their respective countries...’. It reflects the principle of mutual assistance as mentioned in Article IX of the OST. The third paragraph of the OST Preamble states that exploration and use of outer space is for the benefit of all peoples. A similar tone is observed in the ISNET objective, ‘exploiting the potential of the outer space for the development and benefit of these countries.’
Recently, ISNET, which is purely dedicated to the development of space science and technology, has started co-sponsoring the Second International Conference on Space (ICS-2016). The ICS-2016 has major sessions on space science, technology and applications, but only a smaller session on space law, policy and regulatory issues. Space law may be called the tail part of ICS- 2016. It seems to be the fact that ISNET feels later the importance of space law in developing space science and technology. But space law cannot be
discussed or analysed without OST in ICS-2016. Therefore indirectly this organisation feels the importance of the OST in promoting their activities.
(C) AARSE
AARSE is a non-governmental organization organisation with permanent observer status granted since 2014. It was incorporated in 2008.
Some of the objectives of AARSE are as follows: (1) Mutual sharing of benefits between international space science, technology and application programmes and that of between African countries; (2) promotion of greater co-operation and coordination among African countries; (3) assistance of regional and international user communities through dissemination of scientific, technical, policy and programme information of AARSE; and (4) exchange of views and ideas concerned with earth observation system and geo-information science for the betterment of Africa.
The first objective reflects the principle of mutual sharing as described in Article IX of the OST. The second and third objectives support the principle of international co-operation as observed in the OST. The last one talks about the betterment of Africa, similar to the phrase ‘benefit of all people’ in the OST. Lastly, it is obvious to say that the objective of AARSE is the promotion of science and technology of remote sensing internationally. Therefore, AARSE follows the spirit of the OST.