Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Russian anti-satellite missile test
19.11.2021 / 15:36 | Aktualizováno: 30.05.2023 / 13:30
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic strongly condemns Russia´s irresponsible test of its ground-based anti-satellite missile on 15 November 2021 that intentionally destroyed its own satellite Cosmos-1408. The Ministry fully supports firm stance of the NATO and the EU towards this deliberate strike that created a high volume of space debris that poses significant risks for outer space activities in the long term and thereby creates impediments for the free access to outer space for everyone. In this context, we stress the importance of the implementation of the Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines and the Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).
Such behavior is destabilizing and may increase the risk of miscalculation. It highlights the need for the international community to re-inforce the norms for responsible behavior in outer space. In cooperation with its partners, the Czech Republic will actively engage in the discussions at the United Nations aimed at establishing international rules and principles for peaceful and sustainable use of outer space and creation of transparency and confidence building measures. We call on all states to participate in these discussions in a constructive way.