COLOMBIA – ITEM 10

62nd Session of the Legal Subcommittee Committee on the Peaceful

Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS)
March 23, 2023, Vienna, Austria.

COLOMBIAN INTERVENTION Presented by Ms. LIEUTENANT MARÍA

CAMILA VILLEGAS JIMÉNEZ, Deputy Director of Space Modernization

of the Colombian Air Force

ITEM 10. GENERAL EXCHANGE OF OPINIONS ON POSSIBLE MODELS OF

LEGAL RULES ON THE ACTIVITIES OF EXPLORATION, EXPLOITATION

AND USE OF SPACE RESOURCES.

(To be checked against delivery)

Madam President, the delegation of Colombia would like to
make some comments in its national capacity on the general
exchange of opinions on possible models of legal regulations on
exploration, exploration and use of space resources activities.

We welcome the document of the Working Group on Legal

Aspects of Space Resource Activities: Summary of the Status, and

document A/AC.105/C.2/2023/CRP.6, on relevant considerations for

developing a set of recommended initial principles for the

exploration, exploitation and utilization of space resources, the

objective of which is to ensure that activities related to space

resources are carried out in accordance with international law and

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in a safe, sustainable, rational and peaceful manner.
Considering the increase in commercial and private activities in
outer space, we would like to emphasize that it is the duty of States
to verify that they also comply with the United Nations treaties
related to outer space, for which internal regulations must be
established that allow guarantee the security of the
aforementioned activities, which must have exclusively peaceful
purposes.

Likewise, my delegation would like to highlight the importance of

respect for the principle of non-appropriation of outer space,

including the Moon and other celestial bodies.

Specifically, in relation to the legal nature of the natural resources

of space and the activities on the Moon and other celestial bodies,

Colombia highlights that the claim of sovereignty over them,

through their use, their occupation or by any means, can put at risk

the equitable use of outer space for all humanity.

Colombia would like to draw attention to the issue, because we do

not agree with reaching an automatic conclusion that “everything

that is not prohibited is allowed.” Through multilateral diplomacy

we must achieve consensus and agreements on a minimum of

order and transparency around access and use of the resources of

the moon and space bodies.

For this reason, Colombia considers it essential that the terms

“exploration”, “use” and “space resources” be clearly defined, to

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prevent future inconveniences in this regard.
Likewise, it is important to note that currently space resources are
accessible only to a very limited number of States, and some
companies.

For this reason, Colombia considers it relevant to evaluate the

impact that applying a “first come, first serve” doctrine would have

on the world economy, which would generate de facto

monopolies, which would be in absolute contradiction with the

letter and spirit of the treaties and United Nations resolutions,

which promote equitable use.

Thank you very much, Madam President.