UNGA RESOLUTION 1721 (XVI), DECEMBER 20, 1961

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP66R00638R000100150030-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 29, 1999
• Sequence Number: 30
• Content Type: REGULATION

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Annex B
UNGA Resolution 1721 (XVI), December 20, 1961
The General Assembly,
Reco gnizi the common interest of mankind in furthering the':
peace I uses of outer space and the urgent need to strengthen
international cooperation in this important field,
Believing that the exploration and use of outer space should
be onIhae betterment of mankind and to the benefit of States
irrespective of the stage of their economic or scientific
development,
1. Commends to States for their guidance in the exploration
and use der space the following principles:
(a) International law, including the Charter of the
United Nations, applies to outer space and celestial bodies;
(b) Outer space and celestial bodies are free.-for exploration
and use by all. States in conformity with international law and are
not subject to national appropriation;
Invitee the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
to study and report on the legal problems which may arise from the
exploration and use of outer space o
The General Assembly,
Believing that the United Nations should provide a focal point
for international cooperation in the peaceful exploration and use of
outer space,
1, Calls upon States launching objects into orbit or beyond
to furnish information promptly to the Committee on the Peaceful
Uses of Outer Space, through the Secretary General, for the
registration of launchings;
24 Requests the Secretary-General to maintain a public registry
of the inormation furnished in accordance with paragraph 1 above;
3. R uests the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, in
cooperation with the Secretary-General and making full use of the
functions and resources of the Secretariat:
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(a) To maintain close contact with governmental and non-govern-
mental organizations concerned with outer space matters;
(b) To provide for the exchange of such information relating
to outer space activities as Governments may supply on a voluntary
basis, supplementing but not dupXating existing technical and
scientific exchanges;
(c) To assist in the study of measures for the promotion of
international cooperation in outer space activities;
4. Further requests the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of
Outer Space to report o the General Assembly on the arrangements,
undertaken for the performance of those functions and on such develop-
ments relating to the peaceful uses of outer space as it considers
significant.
C,
The General Assembl ,
Noting with gratification the marked progress for meteorological
science and technology opened7up by the advances in outer space,
Convinced of the world-wide benefits to be derived
from international cooperation in weather research and analysis,
1. Recommends to all Member States and to the World Meteorological
Organiza on a. other appropriate specialized agencies the-early
and c. '. ens ive study, in the light of developments in outer space,
of measures-.
(a) To advance the state of atmospheric science and
technology so as to provide greater knowledge of basic physical
forces affecting climate and the possibjlity of large-scale weather
modification;
(b) To develop existing weather forecasting capabilities and
to help Member States make effective use of such capabilities through
regional meteorological centres;
2, Requests the World Meteorological Organization, consulting as
appropria a the United Nations 'ducational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization and other specialized agencies and goverumm?ntal
and non-governmental organizations, such as the International Council
of Scientific Unions, to submit a report to its member Govern4ents and
to the Economic and Social Council at its thirty-fourth sesaipn regarding
appropriate organizational and financial arrangements to achieve those
ends, with a view to their farther consideration by the General Assembly
at its seventeenth session;
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3. R- quests the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space,
as it deems appropriate, to review that report and submit its
comments and recommendations to the Economic and Social Council
and to the General Assembly'.
The General Assembly,
Believing that communication by means of satellites should be
availa la to the nations of the world as soon as practicable on a
global and non-discriminatory basis,
Convinced of the need to prepare the way for the establishment
of of eRtBVie s,tiaaa l; ateUite communications,
1. Notes with satisfaction that the International Telecommunication
Union plans o ca a spec conference in 1963 to make allocations
of radio frequency bands for outer space activities;
2. Recommends that the International Telecommunication Union
consider at t t conference those aspects of space communication in
which international cooperation will be required;
3. Notes the potential importance of communication satellites for
use by t e United Nations and its principal organs and specialized
agencies for both operational and informational requirements;
fit. Invites the Special Fund and the Expanded Programme of Technical
Assistance consultation with the International Telecommunication Union,
to give sympathetic consideration to requests from Member States for tech-
nical and other assistance for the survey of their communication needs
and for the development of their domestic communication facilities so
that they may make effective use of space communication;
Sa Rs pests_ the International Telecommunication Union, consulting
as appropr ate with Member States, the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization and other specia d agencies
and governmental and non-governmental organizations, such as the
Committee on Space Research of the International Council of Scientific
Unions., to submit a report on the implementation of those proposals
to the Economic and Social Council at its thirty-fourth session and
to the General Assembly at its seventeenth session;
6. Requests the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space,
as it deems appropriate, to review that report and.submit its comments
and recommendations to the Economic and Social Council and to the
General Assembly.
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The General Assembly.,
ecalli the resolution 1472 (XIV) of 12 December 1959,
Noting that the terms of office of the members of the Committee
on the peaceful Uses of Outer Space expire at the end of 1961,
Noting the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of
Outer Space,
1. Decides to continue the membership of the Committee on the
Peaceful T~ s es ~of Outer Space as set forth in General Assembly resolution
1472 (XIV) and to add Chad, Mongolia, Mc occo and Sierra Leone to its
membership in recognition of the increased membership of the United
Nations since the Committee was established;
2e R nests the Committer to meet', not later than 31 March 1962
. out t
to . caM
its mandate as conta~.nted,,in General Assembly resolution
11472 (XIV), to review the activities provided for in the present
resolution and to make such reports as it may consider appropriate.
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