Russia, Venezuela urge other countries not to militarize outer space
MOSCOW. Sept 28 (Interfax) - Russia and Venezuela pledge not to be the first to deploy weapons in outer space and urge other countries to follow their example, says a joint statement signed by the two foreign ministers in New York on September 26.
Russia and Venezuela "pledge not to be the first to deploy any type of weapons in outer space and to do their best to prevent outer space's transformation into an arena of military confrontation and to provide security of space activities," said the joint statement published on the Russian Foreign Ministry website on Monday.
Moscow and Caracas "called on states possessing space potential to follow their example," it said.
The joint document of Russia and Venezuela "emphasized that a primary objective of the international community was an international agreement aimed at preventing an arms race and banning the deployment and use of weapons in outer space."
The sides "confirmed their adherence to the principle laid down by Article II of the UN Charter, which said that the threat of using force or the use of force in international relations, including in space activities, should be avoided, and said they proceeded from the premise that all states would strictly comply with that policy."
