Proceedings of the Workshop - United Nations Office for Outer ...

32 EXISTING UNITED NATIONS TREATIES: STRENGTHS AND NEEDSThese and other differences between the twobranches of international law dictate the need for thedelimitation of the two spatial spheres.Summary ReportThe five main UN space treaties were discussed with aspecial emphasis on the strengths and needs for furtherdevelopment. It was recognised that the existing spacetreaties, especially the Outer Space Treaty, are a stillvalid and efficient foundation for Outer Space Affairsbut clarification of some provisions and supplementsfor certain problems is required today.The Legal Subcommittee is - following the revisionof its agenda structure - in the unique position to taskup issues in an explorative way ("singleissues/discussion items”) as well as substantive itemsunder workplans. The following issues can therefore beflexibly accommodated on the agenda of the LSC.UNISPACE/UNCOPUOS should decide on thesequence of their inclusion in the agenda.• Elaboration of a legal regime for Low EarthOrbits taking into account recent changes inthe ITU Convention concerning the status ofLEOs as limited natural resources.• Identification of problems and elaboration ofprinciples for technology transfer ininternational cooperation.• Establishment of a joint UNCOPUOS/ITUWorking Group for the harmonisation of workto be done in the future.• Concluding the discussion on delimitationpossibly with drawing a temporary boundary.• System for dispute settlement (session 7).• Creation of a bibliography of definitions(IISL).• Investigation in the possibility to draft acomprehensive "Treaty on the Law of OuterSpace/Magna Charta for Outer Space”(prepared by a IISL Working Group).• Study on the implementation of the space lawinstruments (including the sets of principles) by. States (prepared by an IISL Working Group).• Investigation in the binding nature of space lawinstruments for non-signatory States (preparedby an IISL Working Group).• Investigation in the problem of the nationalityof spacecraft.• Regulation of space activities conducted byprivate entities on a commercial basisencompassing questions of reliability, disputesettlement and the enactment of harmonisednational space.• Need for a "Outer Space Environment Act”encompassing the definition of space debriswith regard to the concept of "space object”.