International treaties

5 international treaties have been negotiated and drafted in the COPUOS:

- The 1967 Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (the "Outer Space Treaty").

- The 1968 Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space (the "Rescue Agreement").

- The 1972 Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (the "Liability Convention").

- The 1975 Convention on Registration of Objects Launched Into Outer Space (the "Registration Convention").

- The 1979 Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (the "Moon Treaty").

The Outer Space Treaty is the most widely-adopted treaty, with 98 parties.

In addition, the nuclear test ban treaty of 1963 banned the testing of nuclear weapons in outer space.

Space debris are the objects in orbit around Earth created by humans, and that no longer serve any useful purpose: spent rocket stages, defunct satellites, explosion fragments, paint flakes, dust, and slag from solid rocket motors, coolant released by RORSAT nuclear powered satellites, deliberate insertion of small needles, and other small particles. Clouds of very small particles may cause erosive damage, like sandblasting.

Space debris have become a growing concern in recent years, since collisions at orbital velocities can be highly damaging to functional satellites and can also produce even more space debris in the process. Astronauts on space-walks are also vulnerable.

4. Функции дипломатического представительства. Понятия: агреман, persona non grata, верительные грамоты, отзывные грамоты.

Diplomatic law - ancient roots, today comprises a large developed body of law, from a variety of sources.

The 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (VCDR): over 180 parties, comprehensive legal framework for the conduct of diplomatic relations. VCDR sets out the primary functions of diplomatic missions:

- to represent the sending State

- to protect the interests of the sending State and its nationals

- to negotiate with the government of the receiving State

- to ascertain and report the conditions and developments within the receiving State

- to promote friendly relations and develop them in economic, cultural and scientific fields

Agrément – the prior consent of the receiving State for the appointment of the head of mission. The receiving State is not obliged to give reasons to the sending State for a refusal of agrément.

- Other diplomatic agents – just notifications of arrival and departure.

- military, naval, air attaches – names submitted beforehand for approval

The receiving State is at any time (including before their arrival), entitled to inform the sending State that the head of mission or any other member of a mission is persona non grata, or unacceptable, without giving reasons for doing so. The sending State must recall the person or terminate his functions within a certain period of time.

Letters of credence:

- official document

- new head of mission should be provided with

- proves the diplomatic character of the mission and diplomatic representative

- signed by the Head of State, countersigned by Minister for Foreign Affairs

- must be opened by the Head of State at the time of presentation

- placed in an envelope sealed with wax

- traditionally ornate in style

Letters of recall: official document sent to the Head of the receiving State to recall the Head of Mission from his post.