A delegation from the United Arab Emirates joined members of the international space community last week to discuss peaceful uses of outer space during the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Omran Sharaf, Assistant Minister for Advanced Sciences and Technology Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, led the delegation as Chair of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). Ibrahim Al Qasim, Deputy Director-General of the UAE Space Agency, delivered the UAE’s statement during the meeting of the Fourth Committee.
As Chair of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), Omran Sharaf facilitated the adoption of the draft resolution on space and global health and the draft omnibus resolution tabled by the UAE. The two resolutions were adopted by the Fourth Committee with full consensus from participating member states.
Both resolutions signify the dedication of Member States to promoting partnerships and collaboration between countries with advanced space programs and encouraging participation in space-related activities through various capacity-building initiatives. Sharaf also noted that the team of space weather experts that worked on the second resolution finalized their report that contains the results of their work over eight years.
“I want to highlight the commitment and dedication of State members of the Committee to achieving progress in this field. It is important now to continue our efforts to enhance the role of the Committee and its Subcommittees, supported by the Office for Outer Space Affairs, as a unique multilateral forum for fostering dialogue and cooperation. Strengthening partnerships among Member States and other stakeholders, fostering dialogue among spacefaring and emerging space nations, and promoting the increased involvement of all countries in space activities is crucial in our collective space endeavor for humanity,” said Sharaf.
For his part, Ibrahim Al Qasim highlighted the UAE’s space program updates and country commitments in harnessing space to improve the quality of life, finding solutions to issues that may pose a threat to space activities, and bridging regulatory gaps resulting from rapid technological advancements in space systems.
“We recognize the importance of international cooperation, and throughout our new space exploration mission to explore the asteroid belt, we are building on the heritage that was created from our Mars Mission and extending cooperation with our international partners,” said Al Qasim.
The First and Fourth Committees of the UN General Assembly also hosted a joint panel discussion on possible challenges to space security and sustainability for the 2022-2023 period.
The UAE’s Chairmanship of COPUOS for 2022-2023 term reflects the priority given to the responsible and peaceful use of outer space. The UAE has made a commitment to open dialogue and international cooperation to explore innovative solutions for some of the most pressing emerging challenges and opportunities presented by the space sector.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation