SPS International Agreements - Detailed

the legal implications of remote sensing of the earth from space, which would consist of a set of principles. Again, there are major differences among committee members. An early resolution is not likely. In 1970, Argentina submitted a draft to COPUOS for a treaty on the Moon. An alternate draft was submitted by the Soviet Union in June of 1971. Negotiations have disclosed varying opinions on several aspects of the proposed agreement. From 1972 through April 1978, almost thirty drafts were considered relating to provisions dealing with the natural resources of the Moon. During the same period about fifteen drafts were considered relating to the scope of the treaty. Adding to the complexity of the situation were about twenty other drafts relating either to the question of timing or to the issue of information relating to activities in the space environment and to the submission of other information concerning Moon missions. A resolving of the legal issues involving the acquisition of Moon resources has proven most intractable. Rights to ocean resources, including in particular the manganese nodules lying on the deep seabed, have also plagued the United Nations Third Conference on the Law of the Sea. By September 1978, there had not been agreement on the disposition of such deep seabed resources, even though the issue had been raised as early as 1967 when the UN placed on its agenda the subject of Principles Governing the Sea-bed and the Ocean Floor, and the Subsoil Thereof, Beyond the Limits of National Jurisdiction. U.N. Doc. A/AC. 105/C.2/L 71 and Corr. 1. U.N. Doc. A/8391 and Corr. 1. U.N. Doc. A/AC.105/196, Annex I, pp. 2-3, 26, 34-35, April 11, 1977. U.N. Doc. A/6695, p. 1, August 18, 1967.

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