AwaitingLaunch_1397728623369

Draft ICoC: A Ukrainian Perspective
Borys Atamanenko and N. Redchyts
From the day of its independence, Ukraine has clearly defined its
commitment to peace and disarmament, renouncing all nuclear weapons,
strategic missile weapons and strategic military aviation. Ukraine, as a party to
four United Nations Treaties on outer space, adheres to the principles of
peaceful use and exploration of outer space for the benefit and in the
interests of all states, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific
development, without discrimination of any kind, on a basis of equality and
in accordance with international law, facilitating and encouraging
international cooperation.
The main objectives of the ICoC are strengthening of security and stability
in outer space activities, as well as development of mutual understanding and
trust in outer space activities. In our opinion, security in space becomes
important and necessary at the stage of progressive exploration and use of
outer space by more and more participants of different forms of ownership.
A global regime of transparency and confidence-building measures in outer
space, in our conviction, promotes the maintenance of peaceful and
sustainable use of outer space for present and future generations in a spirit
of close cooperation, openness and mutual understanding.
One has to consider the issue of space security as comprehensive in nature
as possible. It includes issues of space debris in Near-Earth Orbit, tracking
of non-operating objects and fragments of space debris, enhanced level of
trust and awareness of space activities undertaken by states, prevention of
weaponisation of outer space among other issues. The provisions of the
draft ICoC are focused on ensuring the safety of outer space activities
In our opinion,
security in space
becomes important
and necessary at the
stage of progressive
exploration and use of
outer space by more
and more participants
of different forms of
ownership. A global
regime of
transparency and
confidence-building
measures in outer
space, in our
conviction, promotes
the maintenance of
peaceful and
sustainable use of
outer space for
present and future
generations in a spirit
of close cooperation,
openness and mutual
understanding.
Draft ICoC: A Ukrainian Perspective | www.orfonline.org 157