Media Center

Vienna / Information Office / March 31

The State of Qatar called on the countries of the world to implement its space activities in accordance with international law, rules, and regulations to ensure that space is used in a sustainable manner and for exclusively peaceful purposes.
This came in the statement of the State of Qatar delivered by the Second Secretary at the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Nasser Al-Thani before the 61st session of the Legal Subcommittee Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), currently being held in Geneva.
He expressed concern about the possibility of an arms race in outer space, stressing the need for all Member States, especially countries that have great capabilities in the field of space, to contribute effectively to preventing an arms race in outer space.
He said that the State of Qatar believes that the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes has added a new dimension to human existence, present and future. The benefits derived from the exploration of outer space and the use of space technologies are playing a major role in everyday life, he added.
He explained that based on the firm convictions of the necessity of upholding the values of international cooperation, any activity in outer space should be carried out in accordance with the Treaty on the Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, as a multilateral basis for international space law, the 1967 treaty established the basic principles of international space law.
He affirmed the important role of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) in capacity-building related to international space law and exchanging information on space law and how to implement and promote it. He pointed out the State of Qatar's interest in strengthening its relationship with the office and benefiting from its technical expertise in national capacity-building, training, and education activities in space law.
On the activities of the State of Qatar in the field of outer space, Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Nasser Al-Thani noted the continuous efforts to integrate space sciences and technologies into the Qatar National Vision 2030 by expanding the infrastructure of its activities in the field of outer space and preparing national cadres specialized in space sciences and technologies, in addition to entering into agreements with specialized reputable international institutions.
He revealed that in 2020, the State of Qatar signed a cooperation agreement with NASA to design the first satellite dedicated to studying groundwater, the effects of climate change, and the impact of rising sea levels on the desert and dry areas, which includes the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa, and is expected to be launched in 2025.
At the conclusion of his statement, he affirmed that space science and technology and its applications provide indispensable tools in finding long-term solutions to achieve sustainable development goals, especially in light of the great changes that have occurred in space activities and the increasing number of participants in these activities, which necessitate multilateral endeavors to meet the new emerging challenges, while taking into account the needs of developing countries.