A/AC.105/C.2/2008/CRP.8

1 April 2008 English only

V.08-52325 (E)

*0852325*

Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space Legal Subcommittee Forty-seventh session 31 March-11 April 2008

Request for permanent observer status with the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space: application from the European Telecommunications Satellite Organization

1. The European Telecommunications Satellite Organization, an intergovernmental organization, has requested permanent observer status with the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space of the Secretariat. Consideration of that request is expected to take place during the fifty-first session of the Committee, which will be held in Vienna from 11 to 20 June 2008.

2. The related correspondence and documentation are being circulated for the information of the member States of the Legal Subcommittee (see annex).

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Annex

EUTELSAT IGO Tour Maine-Montparnasse 33, avenue du Maine F-75755 PARIS CEDEX 15 Tel: +33 1 44 10 41 10 Fax: +33 1 44 10 41 11 segico@eutelsat.fr www.eutelsatigo.int The Executive Secretary Le Secrètaire exécutif Ref: 2007/321/CR

21 December 2007 Ms. Mazlan Othman Director United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs Vienna International Center P.O. Box 500 A-1400 Vienna Austria

Dear Madam Director,

As Executive Secretary of the European Telecommunications Satellite Organization (EUTELSAT), I am writing to submit for your consideration our application for Observer status with the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS).

EUTELSAT was established on a provisional basis in 1977 by 17 European States, members of the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) to enable European states to collectively develop a satellite infrastructure. It was established on a definitive basis by an international treaty, the EUTELSAT Convention, which was opened for signature on 15 July 1982 and entered into force on 1 September 1985. The Government of the French Republic is the Depositary of the EUTELSAT Convention, a copy of which is deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Following decisions taken by the Assembly of Parties of the Organization in May 1999, all assets, operational activities and related liabilities of EUTELSAT were transferred on 2 July 2001 to Eutelsat S.A., a private company operating under French law. The Convention was amended to reflect this change and the Amended Convention, a copy of which is enclosed, entered into force on a definitive basis on 28 November 2002. The Amended Convention is also deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Since July 2001, the role of the intergovernmental organization EUTELSAT (EUTELSAT IGO) has been redefined to cover activities which are essentially of a

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supervisory nature: ensuring that the activities of Eutelsat S.A. are carried out in accordance with the four Basic Principles referred to in the EUTELSAT Amended Convention, namely obligations of public/universal service, pan-European coverage of the Eutelsat satellite system, non-discrimination and fair competition. Furthermore, the Organization ensures continuity regarding rights and obligations under international law, in particular under the ITU radio regulations for the use of frequencies deriving from the operation of the EUTELSAT space segment, which has been transferred to Eutelsat S.A.

EUTELSAT IGO has 48 Member States, as shown in the enclosed list, and consists of two organs: the Assembly of Parties and the Secretariat, headed by the Executive Secretary. The headquarters of the organisation is in Paris.

At its thirty-fifth meeting, 23-24 May 2007, the EUTELSAT Assembly of Parties decided that, given the interest for the Organization of most of the activities covered by the work of UNCOPUOS, the Executive Secretary should take the necessary steps for EUTELSAT to become a permanent Observer to UNCOPUOS, so as to enjoy the same status as its sister organisations ITSO and IMSO.

On the basis of the information provided in this letter and in the supporting documentation, I trust that, at the next meetings of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies (Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and Legal Subcommittee), the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space will be in a position to consider favourably our request.

Naturally, I remain at your disposal to provide any clarification or any further information you may require in writing and in person when subject to your agreement, I will present the application of EUTELSAT IGO to the Committee in June and to its subsidiary bodies in February and April next year.

In addition to the above-mentioned Amended Convention and list of Member States, I enclose a copy of our Annual Report for the financial year July 2006-June 2007.

I look forward to hearing from you on this matter, and take this opportunity to assure you, Madam Director, of my highest consideration.

[Signature] Christian Roisse Executive Secretary

Encl. Amended EUTELSAT Convention List of Parties to the EUTELSAT Convention Annual Report July 2006-June 2007