London, UK, (Antara) - Indonesia stressed on a fair, impartial aerospace regulation for peaceful purposes through the development and application of technology based on the principles of justice and mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of each country.
The statement was delivered by Indonesian Charge d'Affaires Ad Interim of Indonesia's Embassy in Vienna, Austria, Febrian A. Ruddyard, as chairman of the Indonesian delegation, at the 56th session of the Legal Sub-committee of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (LSC-UNCOPUOS) in Vienna, Austria, according to a statement received by Antara here, Tuesday.
Ruddyard asserted that Indonesia had highlighted the need for a regulation on aerospace, particularly with regard to two main aspects: the definition and delimitation of outer space and the fair use of geostationary orbit (GSO) in accordance with the principle of respect for the sovereignty and integrity of a country.
He said Indonesia believes that the agreement on the definition and delimitation of outer space is one of the priority agendas that should be pushed through the UNCOPUOS forum.
The agreement will serve as a legal basis for regulating sovereign territory of the space, and issues arising due to legal uncertainty can be solved.
The strategic position of Indonesia, as an archipelagic country located around the equator, makes GSO-related issues even more important, as 13 percent of the total span of the orbit lies in the country's territory.
Hence, at the LSC-UNCOPUOS trial, Indonesia had reiterated that the position of the GSO must be regulated under a specific legal regime, which is in accordance with the Space Treaty of 1967.
The regulation is also expected to cater to the interests of countries, particularly developing nations and those with specific geographical location, such as ones located on the equator.
At the United Nations Forum, Indonesia along with the G-77 and China, also encouraged all countries, particularly those having made advancements in the field of aerospace, to prevent an arms race and militarization of space and to develop outer space for peaceful purposes.
At the national level, Indonesia has acceded to several legal instruments on Outer Space, including the Space Treaty of 1967, the Rescue Agreement of 1968, the Liability Convention of 1972, and the Registration Convention of 1976, and has put in place Law No. 21 of 2013. The legal instruments have served as the basis for the Indonesian government for implementing laws to develop the nation's outer space activities.
The 56th session of the LSC-UNCOPUOS will be held until Apr 7 and is being attended by over 200 delegates representing countries and UNCOPUOS' observer parties.
The Indonesian delegation was led by Ruddyard and comprises officials from the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space, the Indonesian Air Force, academics of the Atma Jaya University, and the Embassy/Indonesian Permanent Representative in Vienna.(*)
