A/RES/56/51 adopted by the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III), held at Vienna from 19 to 30 July 1999, 1 Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III, 2 Convinced that the use of space science and technology and their applications, in such areas as telemedicine, tele-education and Earth observation, contribute to achieving the objectives of the global conferences of the United Nations that address various aspects of economic, social and cultural development, inter alia, poverty eradication, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on the work of its forty-fourth session, 3 1. Endorses the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on the work of its forty-fourth session; 3 2. Urges States that have not yet become parties to the international treaties governing the uses of outer space 4 to give consideration to ratifying or acceding to those treaties; 3. Notes that, at its fortieth session, the Legal Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space continued its work, as mandated by the General Assembly in its resolution 55/122; 5 4. Notes with satisfaction the agreement reached by the Legal Subcommittee on the question of the character and utilization of the geostationary orbit and the subsequent endorsement of that agreement by the Committee; 6 5. Endorses the recommendation of the Committee that the Legal Subcommittee, at its forty-first session, taking into account the concerns of all countries, in particular those of developing countries: (a) Consider the following as regular agenda items: (i) General exchange of views; (ii) Status and application of the five United Nations treaties on outer space; (iii) Information on the activities of international organizations relating to space law; _______________ 1 See Report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, 19–30 July 1999 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.I.3), chap. I, resolution 1. 2 A/56/394 and Corr.1. 3 Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigendum (A/56/20 and Corr.1). 4 Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (resolution 2222 (XXI), annex); Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space (resolution 2345 (XXII), annex); Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (resolution 2777 (XXVI), annex); Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space (resolution 3235 (XXIX), annex); and Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (resolution 34/68, annex). 5 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigendum (A/56/20 and Corr.1), chap. II.D. 6 A/AC.105/738, annex III; and Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/55/20), para. 129. 2