 17 Nov 2001 @ 20:57, by Flemming Funch
WASHINGTON, D.C. - When President Vladimir V. Putin and President George W. Bush meet again in Russia in 2002, they will have the unique opportunity to establish "a new framework for security and cooperation" and a "new space paradigm" on earth by banning space-based weapons. A World Treaty Banning Space-based Weapons is forthcoming.
There is new evidence that Russia will not approve of U.S. testing of a missile defense system, despite U.S. announced intentions to continue testing. During his November 13-15 visit with President Bush, President Putin repeated that his position on missile defense has not changed. A high ranking Russian source has affirmed to the Institute for Cooperation in Space (ICIS) that, "While President Putin wants to leave the doors open to dialog about other agreements, he absolutely opposes the weaponization of space, will not break the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty, does not want the U.S. to proceed with missile defense testing, and is ready to sign a treaty that will ban space-based weapons."
An intense search for a new framework of security and cooperation between Russia and the U.S. preceded the Bush-Putin meetings in America November 13-15, 2001. But by all accounts, the Washington-Crawford summit failed to reach an agreement opening the way for testing of a U.S. national missile defense system or for breaking the ABM Treaty.
"The position of Russia remains unchanged," Mr. Putin stated as he confirmed Russia's support of the ABM Treaty and its prohibition of U.S. national missile defense space-based weapons. "We have a difference of opinion,'' Mr. Bush said about Russia's position on national missile defense testing and deployment.
ICIS has been assured that officials in President Putin's office have "reviewed and digested well" an advance copy of the World Treaty Banning Space-based Weapons. This will likely be discussed at the next Putin-Bush meeting in Russia.
Growing numbers of world leaders including China and Canada's Foreign Minister John Manley are ready to ban space-based weapons. John Manley wrote to ICIS on November 8th, "It is within the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva that we first seek to negotiate a space-based weapons ban, but we remain open to considering other options, should the Conference on Disarmament continue to remain inactive. Preservation of a "weapons free" status for outer space can greatly enhance the security of existing artificial satellites and their current uses, so vital for our collective national and economic security. Eliminating the direct and unintended costs of weaponizing outer space would contribute to the national security of all states, including the United States, given the very real possibility of universal adherence to an equitable commitment, effectively verified by technical means. The potential introduction of weapons into outer space, and the consequent development and deployment of weapons to counter those weapons, may ultimately serve only to increase the threat to artificial satellites upon which we increasingly rely. There is consequently now a significant opportunity to engage in preventative multilateral efforts to foreclose the possibility of an arms race in outer space."
The now-circulating World Treaty Banning Space-based Weapons provides Russia and the United States, along with the world community, a new framework for national and world security. The ban on space-based weapons will result in the development of world cooperative space industries, businesses, and entrepreneurial ventures that will stimulate Russian, American, and world economies and job markets. Direct application of Space Age technology, products, and services, including information sharing, will help solve urgent humanitarian and environmental problems.
Congressman Dennis Kucinich introduced H.R. 2977, the Space Preservation Act of 2001, on October 2, 2001, "To preserve the cooperative, peaceful uses of space for the benefit of all humankind by permanently prohibiting the basing of weapons in space by the United States, and to require the President to take action to adopt and implement a world treaty banning space-based weapons." Kucinich also introduced legislation to create a Department of Peace. ICIS agrees that it is time to establish a world space peace-keeping agency charged with monitoring a permanent ban on space-based weapons. This will lead to the verifiable reduction of nuclear arsenals.
The World Treaty Banning Space-based Weapons is based on already adopted U.N. space treaty language and is identical in purpose to the Space Preservation Act of 2001. A public announcement is underway about world leaders signing on to the World Treaty Banning Space-based Weapons.
About the Space Preservation Act of 2001, Kucinich says, "We signed the ABM treaty nearly 30 years ago, which requires a reduction in strategic arms, nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament. Weaponization of space clearly violates that treaty. My bill [calls] for an immediate and permanent termination of research, testing, manufacturing, production and deployment of all space-based weapons systems and components by any person, agency or contractor of the U.S. government."
The Space Preservation Act of 2001 requires the U.S. President to "direct the United States representatives to the United Nations and other international organizations to immediately work toward negotiating, adopting, and implementing a world agreement banning space-based weapons."
Dr. Carol Rosin, ICIS President, says, "This treaty will allow every nation to continue to provide improved ground forces to protect people on earth, while realistically capping the arms race, stimulating a whole new industry, businesses, and a new security system based on cooperation and trust in this Space Age. It is in the best interest of everyone, including adversaries, to cooperate in information and technology applications, to build new business, and to form a coalition of leaders who can now acknowledge that there is a whole new paradigm, a new way of thinking and acting, a new space paradigm, that will produce not more of the same, but true second order change. A decision to sign this treaty will impact all future generations who will now see realistic hope that there will be a future of peace, prosperity, and health for all as humans live together in peace on earth and in space."
"A national and world ban on space-based weapons is a breakthrough that establishes the new framework for real security and cooperation that both Russia and America ultimately seek,â€? Rosin says. “The World Treaty Banning Space-based Weapons will place a cap on the arms race, and will simultaneously establish a foundation for building a world cooperative civil, military, and commercial space research, testing, development, and exploration industry that will replace the space-based weapons industry."
Either Russia or the United States - or both - could begin discussions about banning space-based weapons and sign a world treaty at any point prior to, during, or following the 2002 Putin-Bush meetings. Also, either Russia or the United States or both could reach out to a world coalition of nations to co-sign this World Treaty and bring it into effect in 2002.
ICIS will be briefing world leaders in the weeks preceding the 2002 Putin-Bush meetings, will be working to help educate the public and decision makers about the legislation and the World Treaty that will ban space-based weapons, and will monitor the steps that are being taken to move us into the new space paradigm.
Documents posted on www.peaceinspace.com: *World Treaty Banning Space-Based Weapons *H.R. 2977 Space Preservation Act of 2001 *Frequently Asked Questions (Re: World Treaty and Space Preservation Act of 2001)
Contact: Dr. Carol Rosin, ICIS President Tel: 805-641-1999
Institute for Cooperation in Space, ICIS Fax: 805-641-9669
Info: [link] Email: rosin@west.net
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