Outer Space and Internal Development.

Though the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPAGE III)-the last major UN Conference this century will see-the United Nations has once again demonstrated its incomparable ability to mobilize vast human and intellectual resources in the service of peace and international cooperation, choosing the crucial field of outer space where, in the next centuries as over the past, a large dimension of human progress will be developed and where, therefore, the application of the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter appears of particular importance.

One of the key objectives of UNISPACE III, which followed earlier conferences held in 1968 and 1982 also in Vienna, was the identification of specific areas and actions through which space technology can today help solve common regional and global problems, such as natural disasters or environmental degradation, as well as increase understanding of worldwide phenomena such as climate change.

In its Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development, the Conference proposed a wide variety of actions that should ensure protection of the Earth and better management of its resources, increased use of space applications for human security, development and welfare, as well as the advancement of scientific knowledge of space and the protection of the space environment, and the development of a comprehensive, worldwide environmental monitoring strategy for long-time global observations, building on existing space and ground capabilities and increased coordination. It has called for improvement of management of the Earth's natural resources by increasing the use of remote sensing data that should become more universally accessible and affordable. A further call concerns enhancement of weather and climate forecasting by expanding international cooperation in the field of meteorological satellite applications. Another important objective concerns assistance to all States to apply the results of space resear ch. This is particularly crucial in the context of developing countries with the overall view of promoting the sustainable development of all peoples.

Areas in which developing countries can benefit from space technology include public health, as well as tele-medicine and control of infectious diseases, literacy and rural education, natural disaster mitigation, and efficiency and security of transport by promoting the use of space-based navigation and positioning systems. The promotion of space science-such as improvement of scientific knowledge of near and outer space by promoting cooperative activities in such areas as astronomy, space biology and medicine- space physics, the study of near-Earth objects and planetary exploration also figure prominently in the Conference recommendations, which also ask for enhancement of space education and training opportunities, as well as for increasing public awareness of the importance of space activities. It proposes increased interaction between the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and young people from all over the world, especially in develop-ing countries, and with young women for whos e benefit a new consultative mechanism should be created. Outstanding contributions in space activity should in the future be rewarded by the creation of awards that should also be available for young people.

Especially important is the recommendation to establish a special voluntary fund to implement UNISPACE III's recommendations, particularly the activities of the regional centres for space science and technology education, which Member States would be invited to support by an annual letter from the United Nations Secretary-General, inter alia, identifying priority project proposals to enhance and assist technical cooperation activities, in particular for human resources development. A call was also made for new and innovative sources of financing at the international level, including in the private sector, in order to support the implementation of the recommendations in developing countries. The success of UNISPACE III was to a considerable degree due to important innovations introduced to this Conference, such as the creation of a Technical Forum and a Space Generation Forum that widened participation in its work to space science, space industry and the young generation of space experts, whose enthusiasm per vaded many areas of the Conference. Another novelty was the holding of a large and representative space exhibition that gave an impressive idea of the state of the art in current space technology.

Peter Jankowitsch Chairman of the Technical Forum, UNISPACE III