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US programs increase need to prevent arms race in space, says Russian diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov added that such a measure would be the only way to prevent armed conflicts in near-earth orbits and the weaponization of space

MOSCOW, March 2. /TASS/. Programs implemented by the US and its allies make it all the more necessary to develop a document on preventing an arms race in space, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said, addressing the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on Thursday.

"We place special importance on the development of a legally binding multilateral tool to prevent an arms race in outer space. The need for such an agreement has significantly increased amid the implementation of military space programs by the US and its allies, which are aimed at conducting military activities and achieving military superiority in space," he pointed out.

Ryabkov added that such a measure would be the only way to prevent armed conflicts in near-earth orbits and the weaponization of space. "The foundation has already been laid as there is a draft agreement on preventing the deployment of weapons to outer space and the use of force or the threat of force against objects in space, which was submitted to the conference by Russia and China. In order to boost international talks on the matter, together with like-minded countries we initiated the creation of a UN group of government experts that is expected to begin its work in the second half of the year," Ryabkov noted.

He emphasized that Russia expected the UN disarmament mechanism to be a big factor in strengthening the architecture of international security and ending the crisis in the arms control system.