UAE News Agency (WAM), Thursday 3 Jun 2010
Regional Conference Issues "Abu Dhabi Joint Declaration" For Aviation Security
Dubai, WAM:
The Middle East Regional Aviation Security Conference concluded here today
issuing the "Abu Dhabi Joint Declaration" for aviation security.
The Declaration provides for a global strategy and key principles and standards
to deal with aviation security challenges, actively contributes to increasing
cooperation and coordination among Middle East countries and member states of
ICAO and enhances their abilities to provide highest levels of aviation
security.
Hosted and organized by the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) in
cooperation with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and held
in Abu Dhabi under the patronage and in the presence of Sultan bin Saeed Al
Mansouri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of GCAA, the Conference discussed
over two days a number of issues and incidents closely connected with aviation
security through presentations and discussion sessions covering best practices
of airport and aviation security, harmonization of legislations with
international and local standards of civil aviation security, enhancement of
electronic control methods, threats and risks to civil aviation security, and
the concept of the regional cooperation program for aviation security.
Ministers and representatives participating in the Regional Aviation Security
Conference and signing the "Abu Dhabi Joint Declaration" for aviation security
expressed their states' commitment to working closely with each other,
cooperating in order to strengthen their abilities to actively implement
aviation security standards adopted by ICAO, recommended practices, policies and
procedures and making comprehensive efforts to deter illegitimate interferences
in civil aviation through criminal or terrorist acts.
Signatories to the Declaration agreed that it
is necessary for their respective countries to adopt this initiative and plan
and establish the programs and measures required for the execution thereof in
order to achieve their joint objectives in connection with the security of
aviation in the Middle East.
The initiative calls for united efforts to
meet international obligations, sets new strategies for efficient training of
officials and employees in charge of civil aviation security and provides human
and financial resources as required to increase the abilities of states in the
region to deal with all forms and types of threats to civil aviation.
Further, participants in "Abu Dhabi Declaration" stressed the commitment to
encourage governments represented at this Conference, in accordance with their
legislations and national civil aviation security programs, to ensure the
establishment, execution and control of aviation security so as to provide a
number of key principles and standards, including expanding the scope of
cooperation among participating states, ICAO and other international
organizations in relation to civil aviation security, achieving highest level of
sharing information which could enhance the ability to early detect threats to
civil aviation, including API system, increasing the security features in travel
documents and establishing a mechanism to report lost or stolen travel
documents.
These principles included enhancing joint cooperation by sharing experiences,
cooperation in improving methods of checking, control techniques, performance
control and training, establishing special research and development technical
forums in order to set standards for security equipment, assessing new
generation of technology used in aviation security before commencing
manufacturing, and enhancing current methods for checking passengers and luggage
by licensing security detectors, efficient training programs and the provision
of security detection technical methods and techniques.
In addition, participants stressed the importance of providing assistance to
states facing difficulties in rectifying defects identified by ICAO through the
international audit program, and working towards unifying and harmonizing laws,
regulations, programs and measures in connection with security of civil aviation
among signatory states.
Saif Mohammad Al Suwaidi, Director General,
GCAA, commented: "This Joint Declaration does not go beyond the scope of
standards set by ICAO in the relevant agreements as well as complementary
protocols of Chicago Convention. Ministers and representatives of participating
countries are in agreement on supporting and adopting this Declaration which
will strengthen the continued commitment of these countries to support and
enhance aviation security in the Middle East before ICAO, contracting states and
other international organizations."
"The UAE has always been among the first to
adopt international best practices and comply with international conditions and
standards which guarantee efficient and ideal implementation to ensure civil
aviation security. As such, the UAE supports the concept of creating a
specialist program to foster unity, harmonization and cooperation among Middle
East states in the interest of enhancing aviation security in the Region and
spares no efforts to ensure application of these standards in the States in the
Region, which will contribute towards dealing with challenges and threats facing
civil aviation security." Al Suwaidi added.
The Regional Aviation Security Conference, held under the theme "Civil Aviation
Security Threats and Risks", saw high level regional and international
participation through a number of ministers in charge of civil aviation in the
Middle East, directors-general of civil aviation authorities and representatives
of ICAO.
WAM/AB