In general terms, the Space Conference of the Americas has been conceived as a distinct expression of the peaceful use of outer space and, as a result, support peace and international security. The general purpose is to encourage cooperation between nations on these continents and also other nations taking into account the existing asymmetries.

What we seek above all is to carry out actions to strengthen the institutional and academic aspects of nations and regions for the development and consolidation of space science and technology and their applications, in order to achieve security and improve life quality of the population of the American continent.

The Conference will be attended by representatives of all American nations, and the institutions of other continents with an interest in Latin American space development, and I wish to particularly highlight the participation of the ESA at this Conference. Representatives of the academic, private and inter-governmental area, space agencies, and other entities will also be present.

There will be three themes of special interest, in addition to the Intergovernmental Commission:

In Space Law, the CEA seeks to promote the adoption of a judicial framework that contributes to consolidating scientific and technological development, the reduction and mitigation of natural disasters, and the sustainable use of natural resources, among others, all of which will improve the life quality of the population, specially of those in the more economically depressed areas of the member states.

This Commission is set to examine the idea that the United Nations Treaties on Outer Space could serve as a basis of national space legislation. It will also examine the mechanisms to promote space law via education and the provision of technical assistance to governments for the development of national space legislation.

Space education and access to knowledge will be analysed thoroughly, as well as the benefits derived from its application. A fundamental condition is to have access to education on science and technology in order to regulate, widen and promote the opportunity of the benefits derived of the knowledge and application of space science and technology. At the same time the Commission will examine the maters of telemedicine and epidemiology.

The Latin American region is highly vulnerable to natural disasters. This subject will be studied in depth since it represents an issue of great importance – it is very important that all the countries count upon a strategy for disaster reduction and an early warning system. At the same time, environmental protection will be analysed, as will be world heritage issues. It is very important to involve and train those institutions responsible for environmental protection and world heritage, taking into consideration that the Latin American region is very rich in pre-Colombian culture - it is in our interest to use space technologies in order to preserve our cultural heritage.

Space activities are probably one of the expressions with the greatest global component. It possesses the strength of vessels of communication necessary for an increasingly more robust interrelation between states. The Vienna Declaration of the recent Latin America and the Caribbean and European Union Summit is an example for this, since it confirmed the need for greater interregional cooperation in technology and human development.

I therefore believe that the perceptions, be they different as a result of the technological asymmetry, are very similar when it comes to the mutual understanding of the benefits of the same.

Nowadays, cooperation in space related matters takes a multiplicity of forms. It can cover and involve a diversity of actors and regions all around the world – Asia, Africa and Latin America – with included cultural components and examples of concrete mechanisms such as: Colombia – Japan; ESA- and African countries; China-Brazil; CONADE – Peru; NASA – Mexico, etc. There is therefore much closeness, which must be promoted as much as in the countries themselves as in the private sector, NGOs, the academic sector and the United Nations Organisations.

I have always considered the fulfilment of my diplomatic tasks as a means and not an end in achieving a contribution to that which I consider of great relevance for the development of Colombia and Latin America in general. Areas such as space technology and the defence of a legal framework that allows any nation to benefit from it, and also maintaining the rights established in the great consensual principles of space activity.

This holds true over all in the rational use of a natural resource in risk of saturation, such as the geostationary orbit, where a greater part of the satellites of developed countries are placed, based on the principle of “first come first served”. Aspects such as space debris, launching states, and the non-militarisation of space are of equal great importance.

Therefore the approach of a developing region such as Latin America is to try and close the technological gap in space matters and to benefit from the use of said technology. A committed and visionary international cooperation is essential in this because it corresponds to ethical responsibilities that leading nations can not ignore.

In that sense the guiding principles of equality for all states and without discrimination, according to international law, should be preserved. One of the challenges that we see is how to reinforce institutional cooperation in a context of ever greater privatisation and commercialisation in space activities.

One of the passionate aspects of space issues is its multidimensional component that allows for a rich diversity of applications and of perceptions. I believe that there isn’t one activity today more enriching, in the sense that it combines all possible science and technology, ranging from its use in agriculture to architectural design to the increasing possibilities in compliance, verification and enforcement of international legal instruments.

My commencement in this field occurred in 1984 in Geneva, during the ITU World Conference on Decametre Waves, where we were able to reach common ground between the countries of the Andean Group (Colombia, Ecuador and Peru). Nevertheless, well before this my brother Rafael initiated me into the fascinating aspects of space adventure.

Subsequently, I developed a strong inclination for this subject in various conferences that I attended as Representative of Colombia: ITU, COPUOS, regional conferences, the General Assembly, as also promoting and organising the Space Conference of the Americas, leading up to my position as Vice-President of COPOUS and as candidate for the Latin-American and Caribbean Group, elected by acclamation, to the Presidency of the same for 2008-2009 - a special honour for me.

It is an excellent forum for organisations and individuals to obtain the latest information on current space projects and programmes and related technologies, and allows for networking and promotion of their own activities, achievement and products. The IAF is the premier global space forum since it promotes awareness of space activities worldwide, the use of space systems for human development and the development of international space law.

I would like to end by pointing out the importance to see the IAF more involved in the Space Conference of the Américas, and in Latin-America in general. I believe that the contribution of IAF is fundamental and I am sure that it will be in benefit of this common cause.