Russia Expects Paris to Back Initiatives on Preventing Outer Space Arms Race

Article by Mihail Metcel                                        April 11, 2021                                     (tass.com)

• In an interview with the Russian News Agency TASS on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the first human space flight, Russian Ambassador to France Alexei Meshkov said that Moscow expects Paris to support its initiatives aimed at non-placement of arms in outer space.

• “Moscow and Paris on the whole share the need to ensure the safety of space activities and their implementation in accordance with the norms of international law,” says Meshkov. “This concerns the prevention of an arms race in outer space and the need to prevent turning it into a new arena of confrontation.”

• Part of Russia’s diplomatic initiative is “launching talks on the treaty on preventing the placement of arms in outer space.” The draft document was submitted by Russia and China,” said Meshkov. “This also refers to the commitments on the non-use of force or a threat to use force against space objects, agreeing measures on increasing trust in space. It’s also important to adopt global political commitments on no first placement of arms in outer space.”

• “We count on the support of these initiatives by Paris,” Meshkov stressed.

PARIS, April 11. /TASS/. Moscow expects Paris to support its initiatives aimed at non-placement of arms in outer space, Russian Ambassador to France Alexei Meshkov said in an interview with TASS on occasion of the 60th anniversary of the first human space flight.

According to him, “Moscow and Paris on the whole share the need to ensure the safety of space activities and their implementation in accordance with the norms of international law.” “This concerns the prevention of an arms race in outer space and the need to prevent turning it into a new arena of confrontation,” the diplomat said.

Russia is calling on its foreign partners, including France, to back its initiatives, the diplomat said. “Among them is launching talks on the treaty on preventing the placement of arms in outer space [the draft document was submitted by Russia and China – TASS],” Meshkov explained. “This also refers to the commitments on the non-use of force or a threat to use force against space objects, agreeing measures on increasing trust in space. It’s also important to adopt global political commitments on no first placement of arms in outer space.” “We count on the support of these initiatives by Paris,” he stressed.

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