BINDING ARBITRATION OF DISPUTES ARISING FROM SPACE ACCIDENTS

Year 2023, Issue: 25, 51 - 88, 15.01.2023

İnan Uluç

Abstract

The desire to discover space’s unique environment, mine its resources, and changes in national regulations in favor of private enterprises have brought about significant technological advancement. This technological advancement has concomitantly helped humanity to exponentially increase its presence and activities in space. Alas, the law as to outer space has failed to precede this progress. The existing space legal regime is centered around States’ dominance in space and comprised of mechanisms purposed to resolve disputes between two or more States. Hence, it is bereft of effective procedures for the resolution of disputes among private actors, international organizations, and other non-governmental bodies with satellites and spacecrafts in outer space. In this respect, whilst outer space emerges as a new habitat where state and non-state actors are compelled to co-exist, how humanity will address unavoidable, extraterrestrial disputes between these actors becomes a pressing concern. Notably, the non-appropriable nature of space, the cornucopia of actors operating in it, and the abstruse nature of space-related disputes demand a resolution mechanism that may be readily adjusted to protect the interests of public or private enterprises. In light of this, this article assesses the viability of arbitration as an effective means of dispute settlement for accidents that occur in outer space. More specifically, this article analyzes the current international regulations as to outer space, the dispute resolution mechanisms enshrined in them, and how arbitration may play a key role in the effective and efficacious resolution of disputes in space accident cases.

Keywords

The Outer Space Treaty, the Liability Convention, Dispute Resolution Mechanisms, Arbitration

Uzay Kazalarından Doğan Uyuşmazlıkların Zorunlu Tahkim Yoluyla Çözülmesi

Abstract

Uzayın sıra dışı yapısını keşfetme ve minerallerinden faydalanma isteği, özel sektör lehine yapılan ulusal düzenlemeler ve teşvikler sonrası önemli teknolojik atılımlar elde edilmiştir. Bu atılımlar sayesinde insanoğlu uzaydaki varlığını ve etkinliğini de önemli ölçüde arttırmıştır. Ne yazık ki, uzay hukuku bu gelişmelerin gerisinde kalmıştır. Mevcut uluslararası düzenlemeler ve bu düzenlemelerin benimsediği uyuşmazlık çözüm metotları devlet merkezli bir anlayışla kaleme alınmış, uzayda faaliyet gösteren özel hukuk kişileri ve onların menfaatleri dikkate alınmamıştır. Bu durum özel sektörün uzaydaki varlığını önemli ölçüde arttırmasıyla birlikte daha da önem arz eden bir hale gelmiş, mağdurunun ve/veya failinin özel hukuk tüzel kişisi olduğu uzay kazalarının hangi uyuşmazlık çözüm metodu ile daha etkili ve etkin bir şekilde çözüme kavuşturulabileceği tartışılmaya başlanmıştır. Bu metodun tespitinde uzayın devletlerin egemenliğine tabi olmayan yapısı, uzayda faaliyet gösteren aktörlerin çeşitliliği ve uzay kazalarından doğacak uyuşmazlıkların karmaşık yapısı dikkate alınmalı, esnek ve somut olayın özelliklerine ve tarafların tercihlerine göre düzenlenebilecek ve uzayda faaliyet gösteren gerek kamu gerekse özel hukuk tüzel kişilerinin menfaatlerini koruyabilecek bir uyuşmazlık çözüm sistemi tercih edilmelidir. Bu bağlamda işbu makalede uzaya ilişkin uluslararası düzenlemeler, bu düzenlemelerce benimsenmiş uyuşmazlık çözüm metotları, bu metotların noksanlıkları incelenmiş olup, tahkimin neden bu metotların yerine tercih edilmesi gerektiği ve uzay kazalarından doğan uyuşmazlıkların etkili ve etkin çözümünde oynayabileceği rol analiz edilmiştir.

Keywords

Uzay Anlaşması, Sorumluluk Sözleşmesi, Uyuşmazlık Çözüm Mekanizmaları, Tahkim

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