The Hindu : Front Page : Pranab for peaceful use of outer space

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Monday, Feb 05, 2007
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Pranab for peaceful use of outer space

Special Correspondent

Chinese anti-satellite tests not a matter of concern

PHOTO: RAJEEV BHATT

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee at an Aerospace Power seminar in New Delhi on Sunday.

NEW DELHI: The country's security policy makers do not want to read much in the anti-satellite weapons (ASAT) test by China because similar weapons have been successfully fired by the U.S. and the former Soviet Union since the late 70s. At the same time, they called for redoubled efforts for an international legislation to keep space out of bounds of weapons.

"The security and safety of assets in outer space is of crucial importance for global economic and social development. We call upon all States to redouble efforts to strengthen the international legal regime for the peaceful use of outer space," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said while inaugurating a seminar organised by the Indian Air Force as part of its Platinum Jubilee celebrations and attended by 23 chiefs of Air forces and 14 senior officers representing their air chiefs.

India had invested heavily in the peaceful use of outer space and has a well diversified and growing civilian space programme that meets its development needs on education, telecom, remote sensing and management of natural resources. The recent launch of multiple satellites and recovery of re-entry capsule illustrate the depth of the space programme, he said. India was also involved in discussions in Vienna and elsewhere on the cooperative use of outer space.

Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt noted the several successful ASAT tests by the U.S. and the former Soviet Union in the past. At the same time, he stressed the need to keep space free of weapons. The security establishment here should consider the tests as a political statement by China.

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