On the approval of the Convention of the Commonwealth of Independent States on Cooperation in the Field of Exploration and Use of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes

Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated August 27, 2019 No. 138.

 In accordance with subparagraph 1) of Article 15 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated May 30, 2005 "On International Treaties of the Republic of Kazakhstan", I HEREBY DECREE:

     1.To approve the attached Convention of the Commonwealth of Independent States on Cooperation in the Field of Exploration and Use of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes, signed in Dushanbe on September 28, 2018.

     2. This Decree shall enter into force from the date of its signing.

President of the Republic of Kazakhstan

K. Tokaev

Approved by Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan on August 27, 2019 No. 138

Conventions of the Commonwealth of Independent States on Cooperation in the Field of Exploration and Use of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes

     The Member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States, hereinafter referred to as the Parties,

     Taking into account the great importance of space science, technology and space technologies for the socio-economic, scientific and technological development of the CIS member States,

     Recognizing the common interest in the further exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes,

     Striving to develop cooperation in the field of exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, as well as the application of space technology and space technologies for the benefit of the peoples of their States,

     Recognizing the practical importance and potential mutual benefits of targeted international cooperation in space activities based on scientific, technical and industrial cooperation,

     Recognizing the importance of the provisions of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, of January 27, 1967, and the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects of March 29, 1972,

     have agreed on the following:

Article 1

     For the purposes of this Convention, the following terms are used:

     remote sensing of the Earth from space is the process of obtaining information about the Earth's surface by observing and measuring from space the own and reflected radiation of elements of the land, ocean and atmosphere in various ranges of electromagnetic waves in order to determine the location, describe the nature and temporal variability of natural parameters and phenomena, natural resources, the environment, as well as anthropogenic factors and entities;

     coordinate-time and navigation support are operations performed in order for the consumer to obtain all the necessary data about the spatiotemporal states and relationships of objects and processes used or taken into account by him when solving tasks or achieving goals defined in space and time.;

     Space activity is any activity related to the direct conduct of work on the exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies.;

     space infrastructure is a complex of facilities designed to support space activities;

     Space technology is a set of training facilities (launch complexes, launch vehicles), launch and landing facilities (launch vehicles, upper stages, landing systems for components of launch vehicles and spacecraft) and spacecraft operation systems.;

     Space technologies are a set of methods, processes, and materials used to create space technology and provide related services.;

     Scientific and technical potential is a set of human and organizational, logistical, financial and information resources designed to solve the problems of scientific and technological development facing society.;

     Applied space research is research aimed at obtaining and applying new knowledge in the space field to achieve practical goals and solve specific problems.;

     joint activities – the activities of the Parties under this Convention related to the exploration and use of outer space, the use of space technology and space technologies for peaceful purposes;

     Fundamental space research is an experimental and theoretical activity aimed at obtaining new knowledge about outer space.

Article 2

     Cooperation between the Parties in the field of exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes is carried out within the framework of interstate, intergovernmental and interdepartmental international agreements concluded in accordance with generally accepted principles and norms of international law and in compliance with the legislation of each of the Parties.

     The procedure for carrying out joint activities under the Convention is regulated by a separate intergovernmental agreement of the CIS member States, which deals, inter alia, with issues of technology protection, intellectual property rights, information exchange, export control, customs regulation, liability of the Parties, and the activities of the Interstate Space Council.

Article 3

     The objectives of cooperation in the field of exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes are:

     assistance to the socio-economic development of the Parties through the effective use of space technology and space technologies, the results of space activities;

     obtaining economic benefits and qualitative advantages from combining the financial, scientific, technical, industrial and intellectual resources of the CIS member states in the implementation of joint projects in the field of space activities;

     development of scientific and technical potential and space infrastructure of the Parties;

     improving and accumulating knowledge about the Earth and outer space.

Article 4

     Cooperation in the field of exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes is based on the following basic principles:

     equality of the Parties and mutual benefit;

     mutual exchange of scientific and technical information, experimental data, results of development work and materials in various fields of science, technology and space technologies;

     combining forces, resources, and scientific and technical potential in the field of space exploration and use for peaceful purposes;

     development of various forms of partnership and joint activities in the international market of space technologies and related services.

Article 5

     The parties contribute to the development of cooperation in the following areas:

     fundamental and applied space research, including astrophysical research, the study of planets and asteroid-comet hazards;

     remote sensing of the Earth from space;

     time-coordinate and navigation support;

     solving the problem of space debris disposal;

     preventing the asteroid-comet threat;

     ensuring environmental safety and environmental protection in the implementation of space activities;

     scientific research, development, experimental technology and other work related to space technology and space infrastructure;

     manned space flights;

     provision and use of related services;

     training and retraining of personnel for the space industry;

     harmonization of national regulatory legal and technical documents of the Parties in the field of space activities.

     Other areas of cooperation may be additionally agreed upon by the Parties.

     The Parties shall contribute to international efforts aimed at solving scientific, technical and international legal problems of the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, and cooperate with each other in this field.

Article 6

     Joint activities on the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes are carried out by the Parties on the basis of interstate projects and programs.

Article 7

     The coordination of the joint activities of the Parties is carried out by the Interstate Space Council, which is the body of sectoral cooperation of the CIS in the field of space exploration and use for peaceful purposes.

Article 8

     Financing of interstate projects and programs is carried out by interested Parties at the expense of funds provided for in national budgets and extra-budgetary sources.

Article 9

     Disputes between the Parties that may arise in the interpretation and application of this Convention shall be resolved through consultations and negotiations.

Article 10

     By agreement of the Parties, amendments may be made to this Convention, which are an integral part of it, which are formalized by the relevant protocol.

Article 11

     This Convention shall enter into force 30 days after the date of receipt by the depositary of the third notification that the signatory Parties have completed the internal procedures necessary for its entry into force.

     For Parties that have completed domestic procedures later, this Convention shall enter into force 30 days after the date of receipt by the depositary of the relevant documents.

Article 12

     This Convention is open for accession by any CIS member State by submitting the instruments of accession to the depositary.

     The Convention enters into force for the acceding State.:

     a) after 30 days from the date of receipt by the depositary of the instrument of accession, provided that the Convention has entered into force at the time of deposit of the instruments of accession to the depositary.;

b) from the date of entry into force of the Convention, provided that the Convention has not entered into force at the time of deposit of the instruments of accession with the depositary.

Article 13

     In relations between the Parties for which this Convention has entered into force in accordance with the procedure defined in Articles 11 and 12 of this Convention, the following shall cease to apply::

     Agreement on Joint Activities in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space dated December 30, 1991;

     Agreement on the Maintenance and Use of Space Infrastructure Facilities for the Implementation of Space Programs dated May 15, 1992.

Article 14

     This Convention is concluded for an indefinite period.

     Each Party has the right to withdraw from this Convention by sending a written notification of its intention to the depositary no later than 12 months before the date of withdrawal.

     Done in Dushanbe on September 28, 2018, in one original copy in Russian. The original copy is kept in the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States, which will send a certified copy to each signatory State of this Convention.

For the Republic of Azerbaijan

For the Russian Federation

For the Republic of Armenia

For the Republic of Tajikistan

For the Republic of Belarus

For Turkmenistan

For the Republic of Kazakhstan

For the Republic of Uzbekistan

For the Kyrgyz Republic

For Ukraine

For the Republic of Moldova

President    

Republic of Kazakhstan     

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