Statement on Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS) by Ambassador DB Venkatesh Varma Permanent Representative of India in the CD Plenary

Mr. President,

We welcome the opportunity for the Conference to discuss the issue of PAROS. India had joined as cosponsor on the UNGA resolution 69/31 on Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space. India also joined the G21 working paper in CD 1941 submitted to the Conference in 2013.

2.  Over the past five decades India has emerged as a major space faring nation. India’s space programme has developmental and security dimensions. We have a well-established and highly successful space launch vehicle programme and international cooperation with a large number of countries. We have sent a space craft to the Moon; and the Mars Orbital Mission has already completed five months in the orbit of Mars.

3.  India believes that Outer Space should not become an arena of conflict, but a new and expanding frontier of cooperative activity. This places a responsibility on all space-faring nations to contribute to international efforts to safeguard outer space as the common heritage of humankind and preserve and promote the benefits flowing from advances in space technology and its applications for all. We are against the weaponization of Outer Space and support international efforts to reinforce safety and security of space based assets.

4.  India is party to all the major international treaties relating to Outer Space. We believe that this international legal framework needs to be strengthened to enhance the security of space assets for all space users and to prevent the weaponization of Outer Space.

5.  India is prepared to give consideration to the revised PPWT presented by Russia and China as a contribution to the various proposals for negotiating a legally binding instrument in the CD and have taken note of some clarifications provided by the Russian and Chinese delegations today on certain questions raised by delegations, especially with respect to gaps that still persist in the revised draft.

6.  While universal and nondiscriminatory transparency and confidence-building measures can play a useful complementary role, they cannot substitute for legally binding instruments in this field. India has participated in discussions being led by the EU on a draft International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities.

7.  India supported resolution 69/32 on No First Placement of Weapons in Outer Space. However we see the No First Placement of weapons in outer space as only an interim step and not a substitute for concluding comprehensive substantive legal measures to ensure the prevention of an arms race in outer space, which should continue to be a priority for the international community.

8.  Though India supported resolution 69/38 on TCBMs, it is unfortunate that a major space faring country like India was not included in the GGE on TCBMs. In our view a more representative GGE could have enhanced the content of the report.

9.  India supports the substantive consideration of the issue of PAROS in the CD where it has been on the agenda since 1982, including inter alia negotiations in a subsidiary body as part of a Programme of Work.

Thank you.