11.11.2013
Belarus to join UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in 2014
MINSK, 11 November (BelTA) – Belarus will become member of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in 2014, representative of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) Sergei Chernikov told journalists before the opening of the UN Workshop on Space Technology Applications for Socio-Economic Benefits that took place at the Belarusian State University on 11 November, BelTA has learnt.
“Belarus has great experience in space research, and next year it will become member of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. The UN General Assembly will sign a relevant resolution in December. Belarus will be actively involved in all space-related issues starting from next year,” Sergei Chernikov said.
He noted that the idea to hold the UN workshop on space matters in Belarus was not something unexpected. “We wanted to hold the workshop in Minsk as Belarus and its neighboring countries are widely involved in space programs. The results of researches conducted by Belarusian scientists are used at the International Space Station, the scientists are working on the creation of small satellites,” Sergei Chernikov said.
Sergei Kilin, Chief Academic Secretary of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB), noted that membership in the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space will open up a possibility for Belarus to actively cooperate with the countries that are already its members. This includes the exchange of information, international programs of training for young specialists, and the opportunity to hold joint projects with other countries and to enter their markets.
In turn, First Deputy Education Minister of Belarus Alexander Zhuk said that this is the first time Belarus has the honor to host a UN workshop on the uses of outer space. “The space technologies are penetrating every aspect of our lives. So it is natural that we are thinking about how to use these technologies in order to improve the well-being of our countries and to develop our economies. As far as the pressing problems are concerned, today we will discuss the financing, as the development of space technologies is an expensive matter,” Alexander Zhuk noted.
Belarus takes gradual steps in space exploration. A Belarusian spacecraft was placed into orbit in 2012. This event marked the beginning of the creation of the national Earth remote sensing system. Today Belarus gets information from the space and processes it without the help of any foreign specialists.
The Belarusian State University is hosting the UN Workshop on Space Technology Applications for Socio-Economic Benefits on 11-15 November. This is the fourth UN workshop on the application of space technologies for the social and economic development of countries. The first one was held in Istanbul (Turkey) in 2010, the second – in Hanoi (Vietnam) in 2011, the third one in Santiago (Chile) in 2012.
The forum will feature eight sections, over 100 scientists, and specialists from more than 25 countries will make reports.
The participants will discuss social and economic benefits of various space technology applications and exchange the information on research and applications. They will also discuss the principles and mechanisms of cooperation in space matters, present examples of the use of technologies for the development of the economies of their countries. Besides, the participants of the conference will get familiar with the development of the Belarusian Earth remote sensing system and hold a meeting on the expansion of Belarus’ participation in the UN outer space programs.
The forum is organized by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and co-sponsored by the Secure World Foundation (SWF). Chairman of the Program Committee is BSU Rector Sergei Ablameiko.
“Belarus has great experience in space research, and next year it will become member of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. The UN General Assembly will sign a relevant resolution in December. Belarus will be actively involved in all space-related issues starting from next year,” Sergei Chernikov said.
He noted that the idea to hold the UN workshop on space matters in Belarus was not something unexpected. “We wanted to hold the workshop in Minsk as Belarus and its neighboring countries are widely involved in space programs. The results of researches conducted by Belarusian scientists are used at the International Space Station, the scientists are working on the creation of small satellites,” Sergei Chernikov said.
Sergei Kilin, Chief Academic Secretary of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB), noted that membership in the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space will open up a possibility for Belarus to actively cooperate with the countries that are already its members. This includes the exchange of information, international programs of training for young specialists, and the opportunity to hold joint projects with other countries and to enter their markets.
In turn, First Deputy Education Minister of Belarus Alexander Zhuk said that this is the first time Belarus has the honor to host a UN workshop on the uses of outer space. “The space technologies are penetrating every aspect of our lives. So it is natural that we are thinking about how to use these technologies in order to improve the well-being of our countries and to develop our economies. As far as the pressing problems are concerned, today we will discuss the financing, as the development of space technologies is an expensive matter,” Alexander Zhuk noted.
Belarus takes gradual steps in space exploration. A Belarusian spacecraft was placed into orbit in 2012. This event marked the beginning of the creation of the national Earth remote sensing system. Today Belarus gets information from the space and processes it without the help of any foreign specialists.
The Belarusian State University is hosting the UN Workshop on Space Technology Applications for Socio-Economic Benefits on 11-15 November. This is the fourth UN workshop on the application of space technologies for the social and economic development of countries. The first one was held in Istanbul (Turkey) in 2010, the second – in Hanoi (Vietnam) in 2011, the third one in Santiago (Chile) in 2012.
The forum will feature eight sections, over 100 scientists, and specialists from more than 25 countries will make reports.
The participants will discuss social and economic benefits of various space technology applications and exchange the information on research and applications. They will also discuss the principles and mechanisms of cooperation in space matters, present examples of the use of technologies for the development of the economies of their countries. Besides, the participants of the conference will get familiar with the development of the Belarusian Earth remote sensing system and hold a meeting on the expansion of Belarus’ participation in the UN outer space programs.
The forum is organized by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and co-sponsored by the Secure World Foundation (SWF). Chairman of the Program Committee is BSU Rector Sergei Ablameiko.