Hosting UN Space Conference 'Prestigious' For Turkey

Hosting the UN Conference on Space Law and Policy on Sept. 23-26 is prestigious for Turkey, said the head of the country's space agency.

"This organization -- which will be participated by leading experts, scientists and managers on space law and policy -- is crucial for Turkey in terms of the country's prestige and international visibility," said Serdar Huseyin Yildirim, head of Turkish Space Agency.

Yildirim stressed that the UN conference will be beneficial for Turkey as it has been taking concrete steps towards institutionalization in space field.

With the founding of the Turkey Space Agency last December, Turkey institutionalized space research and has started to work on the legal and executive dimensions of the issue.

As one of the most significant events of the UN Office of Outer Space Affairs, the UN Conference on Space Law and Policy will be held in association with Space Technologies Research Institute of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK), Turkey Space Agency (TSA), and Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO).

The conference at the Istanbul Technical University will focus on legal and administrative matters of space activities.

Around 200 international experts who work on space in their own countries as senior executives, lawyers, and academics will attend the UN event, according to TUBITAK.

The extended series of conferences on UN space law and policy, held in 10 different countries since 2002, is meant to enhance the legal and administrative capacity of space activities.

The first conference in the current series, which aims to expand the scope and range of participants, was held in Russia last year. Turkey took part in the conference with both panelists and audience members.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar -