THE OVAL CIRCLE

🇺🇳 On 9 July in Geneva, on the margins of the third session of the UN Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on the prevention of an arms race in outer space (PAROS), a seminar was held on the international initiative/political commitment on No First Placement of Weapons in Outer Space (NFP), organized by the Russian Federation. The meeting was attended by representatives of #UN Member States, including those that have joined the initiative, as well as staff members of the Geneva branch of the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research and various non-governmental organizations. The head of the delegation of the Russian Federation to the third session of the OEWG on PAROS, Deputy Director of the Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia Konstantin Vorontsov, delivered a presentation on the NFP initiative, provided the necessary explanations regarding its details and answered questions from interested participants. During the event, emphasis was placed on the international community’s priority task of preventing ❌ an arms race in outer space and its transformation into a theater of military operations. The importance was noted of the draft treaty on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space and of the threat or use of force against outer space objects (PPWT), submitted by Russia and China to the Conference on Disarmament in 2008 and updated in 2014. The need was underscored for the earliest possible start, on the basis of the PPWT, of negotiations on an international legally binding instrument (LBI) on PAROS. In the circumstances where the prospects for developing such an LBI remain distant, the relevance of the NFP initiative – which is currently the only effective measure to prevent the placement of weapons in outer space and enjoys the support of a significant part of the international community – is only increasing. The discussion confirmed the commitment of clearheaded States to the goals of PAROS, which can be fully achieved only through the development of a dedicated LBI. Participants expressed support for the NFP initiative. They emphasized its significant role in ensuring transparency and reducing tensions in the space domain, and also stressed that it can pave the way for the future conclusion of an international legal instrument on PAROS. 🤝 The Russian Federation values the constructive position and positive contribution of many States to the discussion. Our country intends to continue making every effort to promote the NFP initiative as a measure aimed at keeping outer space free from all types of weapons.