STATEMENT by H.E PROF. DR. H. HARIJONO DJOJODIHARDJO
It is a great honour for me and my delegation to address and extend warm greetings to the distinguished delegates and other participants in this important conference, the Third United Nations Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE 111).
First of all, I would like to congratulate you, Mr. President, on your unanimous election as President of this historic Conference and to express my delegation's full confidence in your able leadership in guiding the deliberation of the conference to a most successful and productive conclusion. My congratulations also go to the other members of the bureau. I would like to take this opportunity to express my delegation's deep appreciation to the Government and people of Austria for hosting the Conference, their warm welcome extended to us. I would also like to express my delegation's appreciation to the Director of the Office for Outer Space Affairs, Dr. Jasentulyana, and his staff for their tireless efforts and impressive work in the preparation of the Conference.
I would like to associate my delegation with the statement presented by India yesterday on behalf of Group of 77.
Mr. President,
We are very pleased to note that through humankind exploration, space has increasingly become another frontier for human's creativity, which provides ever encouraging and imaginative discoveries of prospects for improving the quality of life and enhancing the sustainable utilisation of the Earth, in addition to other discoveries and understanding of the universe. The development and progress of space science and technology has brought human to a stage where applications can be a powerful tool in promoting development for the benefits all humankind. In particular, developing countries have been grateful that they have been able to harness the benefits derived from space science and technology, such as for communication, environment and natural resources monitoring and management, to accelerate their lagging national development, However, as a developing country, we are still facing obstacles that impede their utilisation for development, the most poignant of which being inadequate physical infrastructure for general education and public health, lack of technological proficiency for addressing sustainable national development issues and limited availability of financial resources. These factors account for the slow rate of spreading general knowledge, the scarcity of human resources in advanced technology and hence the limited ability and opportunity for utilising space science and technology. It is a known fact that hitherto only a small number -less than 8 percent- of the worlds research and development capacity comes from the developing countries which constitute a large part -not less than 70 percentof the world population.
Mr. President,
Some may argue that the ever widening gap is a logical consequences of differing levels of efforts exercised by nations and that presently enjoyed benefits are fruits that have been paid for in many ways. But if the situation is left to progress further unchecked, it will create monopoly of space science and technology by a small number of countries which in turn lead to economic dependency of a large number of countries, both bringing power and wealth to the privileged nations and causing more hardship and deprivation to others, a situation that is very contradictory to the spirit of international solidarity for the pursue of the rights to and equitable distribution of prosperity, justice and intelligence.
My delegation is of the opinion that this is one serious situation that has to be faced and solved by the international community in the immediate future. With the era of globalisation of information, technology and knowledge based economy in the threshold of the third millennium in a world that is more unified in human values, rights and commitments to bring peace, justice and prosperity for all humankind, such unbalanced situation poses a serious challenge to the international community to offer solutions that transcends geographical as well as national boundaries.
In this regards, our delegation is indeed very pleased to note that the agenda of this conference will dwell, among others, on the profound issues of benefits of space science and technology and capacity building, economic and social benefits of space science and technology and its applications, and promotion of international cooperation.
Mr. President, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen
We therefore would like to bring to your attention some elaboration on these relevant issues and request the conference to address them in their deliberations and consider recommendations for international practical efforts for addressing them in due time.
With regards to the widening gap in the capabilities of states in the application and the development of space science and technology, our delegation has the view that the United Nations could play a significant role in reversing this trend and increasing its efforts, with the assistance of the countries having relevant capabilities, to pursue a more equitable distribution of capabilities in space science and technology and its applications, and its benefits. In this connection, my delegation is of the opinion that a new fund managed by the United Nations be created or existing funding be enhanced and restructured, to allow large scale educational opportunities and human resources development for talented persons, in particular in developing countries, to master, develop and apply space science and technology for social and economic development applications.
Mr. President,
Industrialisation and commercial isation of space activities are the manifestation of the benefits that can be derived from the development and progress of space science and technology for the global society at large. Moreover, through the efforts of industrialisation and commercialisation, funds will be gained to finance further development and progress of space technology.
In fact, most developing countries that have taken advantage of the benefits derived from space technology and its applications are consumers of space technology products commercialised by advanced countries, and provide a potential market. Therefore, efforts should be made so that the commercialisation of space technology and its applications provide benefits not only to advanced countries, but also to developing countries. Developing countries as consumers could share the efforts of such commercialisation. The efforts will provide benefits for both developing as well as developed countries. For the developing countries, the utilisation of the space technology will contribute to the support of its cost-effective and sustainable development, and in consequence, will also enhance the commercial isation of space technology derived activities and motivates the development of space technology and its applications in developing countries. For industrialised countries, through partnership in the industrialisation of space technology and its applications, cost-effective added value process alternatives may be offered.
It is with such background, matters related to ,transfer of technology" should be addressed and redefined in a much broader context and scope with due consideration to the interests of all parties and the new progressive paradigm of cooperation.
First, development of countries in various regions of the world prior to and since UNISPACE 11 has provided us a lesson, that countries with active participation in technology cooperation have derived maximum and significant benefits from space technology and its applications, in particular to achieve impressive social and economic progress addressing the very basic needs as reflected by universal and basic human values, rights and commitments.
Second, economic cooperation and trade between countries as well as the globalisation of information and technology have also taught us a lesson, that only cooperation with mutual benefits and interests is sustainable and results in impressive progress to all parties, including private companies and the sustainable human resources development in each country. Cooperation in advanced and space technology could very well be most appropriate, by taking advantage of the comparative as well as the competitive advantages of each cooperating country. Countries with developing science and technology infrastructure, may well be the most ideal partners for countries that are very industrialised, with a competitive advantage in technology and expertise to produce sustainable economic and technology paradigm such as outsourcing and technology interdependence.
By way of examples, the implementation of such approach in certain advanced technology fields like aircraft industry in Indonesia and electronic industries in some Asian countries, concrete benefits in terms of technology capabilities have been gained at each partner country that have contributed to or provided potential elements for economic progress; in addition, employment opportunities have also been enhanced. Based on these experiences, my delegation therefore has the view that the paradigm of transfer of technology should be redefined into the paradigm of technology cooperation within the framework of win-win cooperation scheme. Transfer of technology can be carried out as the initial stages in a broader perspective of a win-win technology cooperation.
In summary, the industrialisation and commercialisation of space technology and its applications could be carried out by industrial and developing countries alike as partners in a cooperation of mutual interests and benefits.
Mr. President,
Through the United Nations role in promoting the utilization of space science and technology for sustainable development of developing countries, the United Nations could address the needs of developing countries for international legal instrument mechanism to facilitate access to space science and technology for their economic and social development needs. By way of examples, continued service of remote sensing facilities requires appropriate hardware and software maintenance and updating. In line with the progress of space activities, the existing space legal instruments should be further developed for regulating the problems resulting from the ever-increasing space activities.
In addition, the United Nations could make every endeavour to formulate and adopt new instruments on pressing issues such as the use of geostationary orbit (GSO), in view of the rapid progress of the development of space science and technology applicable for the utilization of the GSO and of fundamental importance for the economic and social advancement of all states, and space commercialisation. In this conjunction, my delegation strongly support the efforts of the United Nations and the international community, to the maximum extend possible, in harmonising national laws with international and regional instruments pertaining to outer space affairs with a view to strengthening their universality.
Mr. President,
It is with such concern that our delegation would like to request this conference address the following steps in harmonising national laws with international and regional instruments as well as scientific and technical with legal instruments and mechanisms related to space science and technology activities of all countries for the pursue of a prosperous, peaceful and stable world. In this regards, the following basic principles should be adhered to:1 . first, all countries shall have access to information on the
progress and
development of space technology and its applications, as
well as their legal instruments;
2. second, communication between countries in facilitating information on the
progress and
development of space technology and its applications, as well as
their legal instruments should be facilitated;
3. third , promotion of international cooperation to allow in-country space
technology and related human resources development, as well as
international economic and industrial cooperation in a win-win
scheme,
4. fourth, carrying out industrialisation and commercialisation of space technology and its applications by industrial and developing countries alike as partners in a win-win cooperation;
5. fifth, developing international space conventions functioning as cornerstones in increasing and encouraging further international space cooperation, addressing the pressing space issues, and safeguarding the interests of all countries.
May I, Mr. President, state my delegations opinion that 17 years after the UNISPACE 11 in 1982, the role of the United Nations have proven to be valuable, which is deeply appreciated by all member states. My delegation wishes to assure its full cooperation in the course of our deliberations with the earnest hope that the UNISPACE III will achieve a successful result to serve the cause of strengthening peace, mutual understanding in the exploration of outer space for the good of all the people of our planet.
Mr. President,
In harnessing the benefits of space science and technology to address the quest of humankind to improve the quality of life and in maintaining the the sustainability of the earth, Indonesia has also gone a long way, following a suitable course relevant to our sustainable national economic and social development strategy. Two major areas have been given emphasis First, the utilisation of PALAPA series communication satellite has shown the determination of Indonesia to utilise space science and technology for the benefits of its social and economic sustainable development, and establish one significant area for the commercialisation and industrialisation of space as viable economic activities. Second, remote sensing for environment and earth resources monitoring is the second major activities worth of integrated commercial and industrial scheme. Third, industrialisation and commercialisation of space is directed in an integrated fashion for technology and social-economic development.
The first space application related industry is now broadened in its service and directed toward commercialisation and services for revenue gaining activities. The second one is directed for natural resources and environment management, disaster mitigation and climatic study. The third activity is carried out following a pragmatic industrial transformation strategy and through win-win cooperation scheme, that has been successfully led by incountry development of the aircraft industry. In this regards, new applications have been introduced or are envisioned, such as the Cakrawarta Direct Broadcast Satellite series, GARUDA Global Mobile Personal System for the Asia and the Pacific Region, in cooperation with several foreign partners, including companies of Thailand and the Philippines, and the Aeronautical Navigation Satellite System. Research and development activities for progressive technology development are also taking place, for which the Indonesian National Institute for Aeronautics and Space/ LAPAN is playing a major role.
In the application of space science and technology for resources and environment monitoring, Indonesia is very pleased to share her experience to other countries to take advantage of the unique issues being addressed and in the pursue of effective and optimum solutions to problems that may commonly be faced by countries. In particular, the utilization of space science and technology for the understanding and predicrtion of El Nino phenomena and tropical forest studies and management has introduced gratifying international cooperation. As one of the priorities in the Indonesian space activities, the capabilities in climate and weather forecasting will continue to increase by utilizing data acquired from satellites and other sources.
We are pleased to inform the Conference that Indonesia has continued to make available to other developing countries, within its limited resources, various cooperation programmes in the peaceful uses of outer space. We share with other countries in the ESCAP region a vital interest in fostering cooperation as a necessary precondition within which to ensure national development. Our commitment to these objectives was reflected, among others, in the active and constructive participation of Indonesia at various activities, such as under the Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific (RESAP).
By considering the current major problems faced by Indonesia, all space activities in Indonesia are being focused, to a maximum extent possible, on coping with the economic and environmental issues. The launchings of the next satellites for the purposes of fixed communications and broadcastings would be in accordance with solving such issues. Being applied extensively in Indonesia, remote sensing and GIS are also directed in support of activities to meet the basic needs of the Indonesian people
Mr. President,
Indonesia hopes that cooperation with other countries in the field of space will continue to increase in the forthcoming years, in particular cooperative activities in support of economic development and mitigating environment problems.
In conclusion, we believe that:
Space is indeed the promising frontiers. In the quest for harnessing space science and technology for the benefits of humankind, the vision of yesterday is the reality of to day and the vision of to-day will be the reality of to-morrow.
Thank you Mr. President.