Tuesday the United Nations First Committee voted on the resolution: "prevention of an arms race in outer space". The resolution was passed without any votes against and with the United States and Israel the only abstentions. Micronesia who abstained last year were not present.
After the vote Denmark made an "explanation of voting" statement on behalf of the European Union and a large number of other associated countries. The purpose was "to reiterate that the Conference on Disarmament is the only international multilateral negotiating forum for disarmament. Therefore, it is within the CD that any decision should be taken regarding work on the prevention of an arms race in outer space." This position is quite widely held and, with the lack of progress at the CD, it creates another block to the
development of a new Outer Space Treaty.
The New Agenda Coalition and Theatre Missile Defence
At the First Committee the New Agenda Coalition states are again pushing on the nuclear disarmament process and challenging the states with nuclear weapons, and
in particular the U.S. and its allies.
After the vote Denmark made an "explanation of voting" statement on behalf of the European Union and a large number of other associated countries. The purpose was "to reiterate that the Conference on Disarmament is the only international multilateral negotiating forum for disarmament. Therefore, it is within the CD that any decision should be taken regarding work on the prevention of an arms race in outer space." This position is quite widely held and, with the lack of progress at the CD, it creates another block to the
development of a new Outer Space Treaty.
The New Agenda Coalition and Theatre Missile Defence
At the First Committee the New Agenda Coalition states are again pushing on the nuclear disarmament process and challenging the states with nuclear weapons, and
in particular the U.S. and its allies.