Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

EXPLORING THE UNKNOWN 119
VII. Future Meetings
The Conference provided for two types of future meetings. First, member and observer
countries are to notify the Conference Secretariat if they intend to participate in or
observe meetings of the intersessional Preparatory Committee, which is to convene in
Washington as soon as possible after May 20, on a date to be notified by the Conference
Secretariat. The Committee is then to meet again thereafter at such times as it may decide
as necessary to complete its work.
A second plenipotentiary session of the Conference is scheduled to convene in
Washington on November 18, 1969.
The Preparatory Committee is intended to be broadly representative of all areas and
attitudes. It is encouraged to resolve in an objective manner differences of views presented
during the Conference, although it is not empowered to negotiate definitive arrangements.
No country will be bound by the views and positions of the Committee’s report,
whether or not it is represented on the Committee.
The Committee is instructed to elect its own Chairman and to establish its own procedures
and methods of work. Its report is to be circulated through the Secretary General
of the Conference at least sixty days prior to the reconvening of the Conference. The
report will be in [20] the form of draft agreements, with such alternate drafts of specific
articles as may be necessary to reflect differences of significant views. However, degrees of
support are not to be reflected in the report.
If the Committee should be unable to complete its work in time, it may postpone the
reconvening of the Conference and request the host Government (U.S.) to reconvene the
Conference at the earliest convenient date.
VIII. Conclusions
From the outset it was known that the task of establishing definitive arrangements for
a global commercial communication satellite system would be demanding, complex and
time consuming. During the four weeks of this session, the Conference collected, considered
and condensed a great many views. This was an essential and desirable first step.
Machinery has now been established for further significant steps, i.e. preparation of
drafts and, hopefully, resolving of differences of views. This work is to be done in the intersessional
Preparatory Committee. The Committee’s work product will be draft agreements,
including alternative provisions where appropriate, which all interested countries
can consider prior to and at a reconvened session of the Conference, now scheduled for
November 1969.
One overriding value of the first session was the educational benefit it offered to all
participating countries. Many countries, particularly those not represented on the ICUS,
expressed their views at this session for the first time. Many of the earlier published positions
of other countries were explained, elaborated and documented. In the increased
international understanding it produced, and in the high level of international cooperation
it evidenced, this first session was undoubtedly successful. The individual and joint
efforts of all the participating representatives and observers, particularly those of the
Conference officers and Committee and Working Group Chairmen, have advanced the
prospects of successful conclusion of these considerations immeasurably.
The first session appropriately concluded on a note of constructive optimism and
cooperation. The provisions for further work and deliberations should make possible [21]
a continued valuable exchange of views and timely conclusion of definitive arrangements
for the presently operating global commercial communications satellite system established
by INTELSAT.
The Chairman of the Delegation wishes to thank the other members of the
Delegation for their very able assistance and sound advice.