sci~ntific, economic andsocialdevelopment ofallcountries. Theyalsoshared thegenuine concerns expressed onthepartofmanycountries onthesubjectof theprevention ofanarmsraceinouterspace. Theynoted,however, that outerspaceispresently not,infact,anareafreeofweapons. Theystressed thatthefirsttaskoftheAdHocCommittee wastoclarify ambiguities surrounding theexisting legal r~gimesinouterspaceintermsofwhatwas permitted, whatwasprohibited, whatgreyareasmightexistandwhatgapsrequired attention. Theypointedoutthattherewasnoagreement onthemeaningofsuch basictermsas'peaceful purposes' or'militar1zation'. Itwasnotedthatmany activities inspace,whileofamilitary character, servedavarietyoffunctions thatcontributed tostability andtomonitor!ng theimplementation ofdisarmament agreements. Inthatcontext, thesedelegations mentioned theproblemofthe protection ofsatellites andpointedoutthattherewerediffering views regarding theprotection already afforded bytheexisting legalregime, whether thatprotection neededtobestrengthened and,-ifso,whatscope.it shouldbe given. Intheirview,theconsideration ofproposals foradditional measures topreventanarmsraceinouterspacepresupposes thattheCommittee ~eaches apriorcommonunderstanding ofwhat1spermitted andwhatisprohib1tsd. "15.Withrespecttothequestion ofwhethertherewasathreatofanarmsrace inouterspace,onedelegation notedthatitbelieved thatouterspaceshould onlybeusedforpeaceful purposes andtothatenditwasengagedinbilateral -1l1~ ............."",.•.,..,...,~",- ~.":,'c~._.:......._.•_-"--'.'__.".,.,.__ ;_,",-',"_~_ .....c:..:....::;._L\, i!f I' t I "1_ j.; ",li, I, i- I'. t,negotiations. ItwasreadyintheAdHocCommittee todiscussissuesrelating toouterspaceinamannerconsistent with,andcomplementary to,thebilateral negotiations. Itstressed thattheStrategic DefenceInitiative wasonlya research programme thatwasconsistent withallinternational obligations of itscountry, including eXisting treaties. Itpointed outthatonecountry possessed currently operational capabilities inthisareaand,formanyyears, hadbeenconducting research intoadvanced technologies forstrategic defence. "16.Onedelegation answered thatitscountry hadnotbeenconducting research intoadvanced technologies forstrategic defence. "17.Somedelegations stresseci thattheambiguities surrounding theexisting legalregimecouldonlyberesolved orclarified intheprocessofelaboration ofnewagreements, asnoneotherthanStatesPartiestoexisting treaties had thecompetence tointerpret thoselegalinstruments. Thosedelegations believed thatasfarastheinternational community wasconcerned, thecallinginto question ofthemeaning ofthetermsininternational instruments byStates Parties themselves, placedtheseinstruments injeopardy. Therefore, these delegations emphasized thatreference toambiguities inexisting legal instruments wouldbedevoidofmeaning andevenhavetheeffectofdiverting attention ifmadeoutside theframework ofnegotiations offurther agreement or agreements toprevent anarmsraceinouterspace.Inthiscontext they expressed theneedtoengageinthepreliminary taskofclarifying ambiguities surrounding weaponization ofouterspaceandthe'stateofart'inspace weapons withinthecontext ofnegotiation. Inparticular, theneedtoreach agreement onthemeaningofsuchbasictermsas'peaceful purposes', ~ilitarization', or'weapons ofmassdestruction', especially sincerecent developments inweapontechnology haveblurred thetraditionally accepted interpretation ofthosetermsamongthespacePowers. "~8.Alldelegations welcomed theinitiation ofbilateral negotiRtions onspace andnuclear armsandrecognized theirimportance. Atthesametime,theystressed theimportance of,andneedfor,amultilateral approach toissuesrelating to theprevention ofanarmsraceinouterspace. "19.Manydelegations considered thatthetwonegotiatlng parties shouldbear constantly inmindthatnotonlytheirnattonal interests butalsothevital interests ofallthepeoplesoftheworldareatstakeand,accordingly, should keeptheGeneral Assembly andtheConference onDisarmament dUlyinformed of theprogress oftheirnegotiations, without prejudice totheprogress ofthe negotiations. Thesedelegations further believed thatbilateral negotiations donotinanywaydiminish theurgentneedtoinitiate multilateral negotiations intheConference onDisarmament ontheprevention ofanarmsraceinouterspace. "20.Withrespeot toeXisting agreements, multilateral aswellasbilateral, relevant totheprevention ofanarmsraceinouterspace,·the GroupofSocialist delegations emphasized thatthereexistsalready aninte~national legalregime whichplaces ce~tainlimitations onvarious armsandmilitary activities in outerspace. Intheirview,however, alltheagreements arenotsufficient to
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing international relations and diplomacy, specifically the prevention of an arms race in outer space. The language used is formal and technical, indicating a focus on international law, treaties, and agreements. The text also touches on the need for clarification of existing legal regimes and the development of new agreements to prevent an arms race.

**Category**
Science and technology, International relations