As Azerbaijan obtained a status of permanent member of Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), UN recommended the country to join the five agreements on the use of outer space for peaceful purposes.
This issue was discussed within the meeting between Communications and IT Minister Ali Abbasov and the head of UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) Mazlan Othman during the visit of the Azerbaijani delegation to Austria (Feb. 21-22).
The activity of COPUOS and its Legal Subcommittee allowed the UN General Assembly to adopt five legal documents that are valid up to now:
- Treaty on principles of the countries' activities in the exploration and peaceful use of outer space including the Moon and other celestial bodies;
- Agreement on the rescue of astronauts, the return of astronauts and the return of objects launched into outer space;
- Convention on international liability for damage caused by space object;
- Convention on Registration of objects launched into outer space;
- Agreement on the countries' activity on the Moon and other celestial bodies.
The above-mentioned legal documents, envisage space research in the interests of all countries, assistance to the crew of the spaceships in the event of a crash or emergency landing, the responsibility for damage caused by them on the surface of the Earth, the registration of space objects and the submission of information about the launched facilities to the UN. "The agreement on the Moon" more specifically develops the principles relating to the moon and other celestial bodies and establishes a foundation for future exploration and exploitation of natural resources of celestial bodies.
The General Assembly has also developed the principles to conduct space activity on the basis of the work conducted by the committee and its legal subcommittee. The principles of using artificial earth satellites for international direct television broadcasting, the principles relating to the Earth remote sensing, the use of nuclear power sources in outer space, the declaration on international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for the benefit and in the interests of all states are among them.
The development of space industry is one of the priority areas related to the ICT development in Azerbaijan. This year we plan to launch the Azerbaijani first artificial satellite.
"State program on creation and development of space industry" was approved by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's decree dated August 17, 2009. It is a good example of the government's special attention to this area. The program is designed to form the basis for the creation and development of the country's space industry, to meet the growing needs of the people in information technologies. Moreover, the state program will ensure the country's joining the world market and the development of economic, social, scientific and cultural spheres, as well as areas of national security through the rational use of outer space. The Azerbaijani Communications and IT Ministry is responsible for the implementation of the project.