Half a century in space: contributing to the development of space and telecommunications law
- Paper number
IAC-21,E7,IP,2,x63773
- Author
Ms. Elina Morozova, Russian Federation, Intersputnik International Organization of Space Communications
- Coauthor
Ms. Daria Afanasyeva, Russian Federation, Intersputnik International Organization of Space Communications
- Year
2021
- Abstract
2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the Intersputnik International Organization of Space Communications, an intergovernmental organization (IGO) which has been contributing to the development of space and telecommunications law in a number of ways that will be illustrated in this interactive presentation. Intersputnik unites 26 member states, the majority of which are parties to the United Nations treaties on outer space. In 2018, guided by a decision of the Board, Intersputnik’s highest governing body consisting of its member states, Intersputnik declared its acceptance of the rights and obligations provided for in the 1968 Rescue Agreement, the 1972 Liability Convention, and the 1975 Registration Convention. Intersputnik also accepted the obligation to comply with the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and responsibility for compliance with this treaty, being the first intergovernmental organization to do so in seeking a practical legal solution for linking Article VI to IGOs. In 2012, owing to the efforts of Intersputnik within the International Telecommunication Union, a new Rule of Procedure drafted by the Radio Regulations Board was approved by the World Radiocommunication Conference laying down a mechanism to enable a group of states, including those acting within an IGO, to exercise their right to appoint and replace the notifying administration acting on behalf and in the interests of the group. This Rule of Procedure became an important legal tool for IGOs and has been implemented for a couple of times since first tested by Intersputnik. Under its constituent documents, Intersputnik is charged with the task of commercially operating an international communications system using satellite capacity owned or leased by the organization. This is the reason for some law-related specifics of Intersputnik which are not typical for an IGO and which will also be addressed in this interactive presentation, such as establishing subsidiaries in member states and recourse to international commercial arbitration as the final stage of settling disputes within the organization. As an active member of international community, Intersputnik is engaged in close cooperation with international and regional intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and national associations, which yields results described in this presentation along with the capacity building efforts related to the field of space and telecommunications law.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
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