Mr.
Secretary-General,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of the Republic of Austria I welcome you to the Third UN Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. I am particularly pleased that the Secretary-General of the United Nations has joined us on this occasion. Your presence here today is highly appreciated and we are grateful for your support of Vienna as one of the major centers of the world organization.
UNISPACE III is a most timely and innovative event for a number of reasons:
First, tomorrow it will be exactly thirty years that Neil Armstrong set foot on the Moon. This historic achievement has inaugurated a new era for mankind. The exploration of outer space has changed our perspective in fundamental ways. For the first time, we can look at our world in its totality. The picture of Earth, taken from outer space, has revealed the unique beauty of our planet - and its great vulnerability. It has become the very embodiment of a new sense of global community - making it all the more essential that the spirit of consensus and cooperation in space activities will be further strengthened.
Second, the most promising way of such cooperation is manned space flight. The new international space station will really be mankind's outpost in space. Today, we can only speculate about the new findings and discoveries that will be sparked by this great endeavor in such diverse fields as life sciences, material sciences and technological development. Especially at a time when armed conflict has once again become a frequent reality - even at the center of Europe - it is all the more urgent to remind ourselves of the responsibilities which we have taken upon us for peace and security here on Earth.
Third, UNISPACE III will be the first global conference of the United Nations with industry and civil society to participate as full partners of governments. This reflects the increasing economic use of outer space and the rapidly growing importance of private companies in this area. Moreover it reflects the heightened interest of citizens in matters related to outer space. Let me congratulate you, Mr. Secretary General, on this new approach, which represents a fundamental change in the attitude of the United Nations.It is a timely recognition of the fact that governments are no longer the sole actors - not even the most important actors - when it comes to space applications. In a number of areas - from satellite communications to launch services - the space industry has outpaced government involvement. The space exhibition, which runs parallel to this conference, displays state-of-the-art space technology by some of the leading aerospace manufacturers, government agencies and civilian organizations. It constitutes a unique opportunity to meet and establish new partnerships.
Fourth, UNISPACE III is based on the conviction that the future of mankind lies with the young people. The Space Generation Forum provides an unprecedented opportunity for junior space professionals to present new insights, fresh ideas and alternative scenarios for the 21st century. I am confident that the young leaders of the space sector will make good use of the chances offered to them.
Fifth, UNISPACE III is also a trend-setting conference, not only because of its composition, but also with respect to the way it is funded, namely within existing resources. As a former Permanent Representative of my country to the UN in New York, I know quite well what this means for the staff. Let me therefore express my appreciation and gratitude to the team at the Office for Outer Space Affairs and its director for their special commitment to make this possible.
Mr. Secretary General, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen,
To explore the unknown has always been a strong driving force in the history of the mankind. As the Roman poet Virgil said in the Aenaeis some 2000 years ago: "Sic itur ad astra" - "Thus shall you go to the stars!" When -he wrote these words, Virgil probably did not expect that one day his words would actually come true. Today, going to the stars means to learn, to gather knowledge, to enrich our spirit and to chart new ways of shaping our future. But let us not forget: new possibilities have always been matched by new responsibilities.
I am optimistic that UNISPACE III will reach its two main goals : promote effective means of using space solutions to address problems of regional or global significance and strengthen the capabilities of member states to use the results of ce research for social, economic and cultural development.
Today, space technology has become part of our lives to a degree which was unimaginable only a few years ago. But it can even do more to promote sustainable development and to monitor events that may endanger the well-being and livelihood of large numbers of people.
Unless the developed world is prepared to share its technological know-how with the developing countries, the benefits of space applications will remain curtailed to the detriment of both sides. Developing countries need to improve their national capabilities and the United Nations are called upon to ensure access to the knowledge and skills required for the peaceful uses of outer space. I appeal to all of you - the representatives of governments, of private industry and of non -governmental organizations - to actively support LIN initiatives in this field in order to make space knowledge a major contributor to human progress. I believe that UNISPACE III is an ideal platform to promote the involvement of a larger number of developing countries in international research programs.
The increasing changes in the biosphere of Earth caused by global phenomena like the depletion of the ozone layer, the greenhouse effect, the deforestation of the tropical rain forests, the erosion offertile soils or the consequences of volcanic eruptions call for urgent action based on a comprehensive set of reliable data collected on a worldwide basis. This can be done effectively only by observation of our environment from space. Remote sensing has already become a vital tool for the management of our ecosystem with the ultimate objective of promoting sustainable development in all our societies.As you are well aware, the application of space technology reaches far beyond the biosphere. It is also gaining increased importance in areas like combating organized crime. I mention this since there are synergies in this area between the work of the Office of Outer Space Affairs and that of the Vienna based UN Drug Control Program. For instance space technology can help to survey illicit crops. With the help of UNDCP several major coca and opium producing countries want to eradicate illicit cultivation of such crops and are already setting up capabilities to use remote sensing technologies for this purpose.
Mr. Secretary-General, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, Let me conclude by recalling what the famous American Rocket Pioneer Robert H. Goddard said when he was asked about the possibility of humans going into space. He rep-lied: ' It is hard to say what will be possible or not, because the dreams of yesterday are the possibilities of today, and the realities of tomorrow.,' His words are still relevant today and should guide our work '.
I wish you success in your deliberations for the sake of our common
future and for peace and progress of all mankind.