space. Furthermore, itconsidered thatitwillhaveanadverse effect onthe process ofnuclear disarmament bypushing upthenuclear armsracetoanew height. Confronted withsucharealityitstandstoreasonforthe international community todemandthatthetwocountries withthelargest spacecapabilities bearspecial responsibilities inpreventing anarmsracein outerspace. Theyshouldadoptpractical measures inundertaking notto develop, testordeploy anytypesofspaceweapons, andonthisbasisconduct negotiations withaviewtoconcluding aninternational agreement that completely bansallspaceweapons. Ittooknoteofthebilateral negotiations onspaceissuesbetween thetwomajorspacePowers andpointed outthatsofar nothing substantive hasbeenachieved. Thedelegation recalled therelevant provisions oftheUNGeneral Assembly resolution 44/112. Italsorecalled thatitsstatehasallalongbeenopposed tothearmsraceinouterspaceand stoodforthecomplete prohibition andthorough destruction ofallkindsof spaceweapons, including bothanti-ballistic missiles andanti-satellite weapons, because thesetwokindsofweapons areinseparable. 20.Manydelegations reiterated thatouterspacewastheheritage ofall mankind andassuchitshouldtherefore remain adomainforexclusively peaceful co-operation, thusmakingitofvitalimportance toprevent anarms CD/I034 page9 raceinouterspace. Somedelegations pointed outthattodatetheConference hasperformed usefulworkonidentifying andclarifying thevarious aspects of thiscomplex itemandhasbeforeitnumerous proposals aimedatsupplementing andelaborating upontheexisting legalregime, whichshouldcontinually be strengthened. Intheirview,theConference shouldurgently fulfilitsrole intheelaboration ofnewinstruments ofalegalcharacter whichwould,inan all-embracing andmultilateral way,tackletheissueofthenon-militarization ofouterspace. Thosedelegations maintained thatthetimeliness for effective solutions couldbeseenfromthestatement madeintheplenary of theConference thatUnitedStates-Soviet bilateral negotiations are"based uponamutualrecognition thatthereisnoabsolute weapon-offensive or defensive", whichclearly indicated thenegative consequences ofdeployment of anyweapons inouterspace. Theyalsorecognized tobeanurgentissue,asan increasing numberofcountries arebecoming technologically capable of conquering outerspace,inwhichonlymilitary activity aimedatverifying disarmament treaties couldbeuseful. Intheirviewtheurgentelaboration of asystemofconfidence-building measures wouldclearthewayforessential stepstowards preventing thearmsrace. B.Existing agreements relevant totheprevention ofanarmsraceinouter space. 21.TheAdHocCommittee recognized thatactivities intheexploration and useofouterspaceshouldbecarried outinaccordance withinternational law.Theimportance oftheprinciples andprovisions ofinternational law relevant totheprevention ofanarmsraceinouterspacewasstressed. 22.Somedelegations underlined thecentral rolethattheCharter ofthe UnitedNations playedinthelegalregimeapplicable toouterspace. Inthat connection theystressed thespecial significance ofparagraph 4ofArticle 2 andArticle 51.TheynotedthatArticle 2(4)prohibits thethreatoruseof forceagainst theterritorial integrity orpolitical independence ofany state. Complementing Article 2(4),Article 51permits statestoexercise theirinherent rightofindividual orcollective self-defence. These delegations thusconcluded thatwhenreadtogether, thesetwoCharter provisions strictly prohibit theuseofforceinallinstances except self-defence. Accordingly, theybelieved thattheseprovisions afforded a substantial degreeofprotection tospaceobjects. Otherdelegations reaffirmed theimportance oftheUnitedNations Charter, but,atthesame CD/1034 page10 time,reiterated thatitsprovisions concerning thenon-use offorcecould not,inandofthemselves, besufficient topreclude anarmsraceinouter space-justastheyhadnotdonesoonEarth-sincetheydidnotaddress the question ofthedevelopment, testing, production anddeployment ofweapons in space. Thesedelegations recalled thatthelegalprovisions ofthesearticles hadnotdiminished theuniversally-recognized needtonegotiate disarmament agreements andeventobanspecific typesorwholeclasses ofweapons, suchas biological, nuclear, chemical andradiological weapons. Intheirview, Article 51oftheCharter couldnotbeinterpreted asjustifying theuseof
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the issue of space weapons and the need for international agreements to prevent an arms race in outer space. It emphasizes the importance of preventing the development, testing, and deployment of space weapons and encourages countries with significant space capabilities to take the lead in this effort. The text also references international law and the United Nations Charter, highlighting the need for a multilateral approach to address this issue.

**Category**
Science and technology, International relations