Momentum builds for Global Aviation Security Strategy

Fourteen Asia/Pacific States* meeting in Kuala Lumpur yesterday and today adopted a comprehensive strategy to systematically improve passenger and cargo security throughout the region, part of a global initiative aimed at countering new and emerging threats to air transport worldwide.

Y.B. Dato’ Seri Kong Cho Ha, Minister of Transport of Malaysia, said the Conference represented “a commitment to strengthening aviation security and protecting civil aviation in the Asia/Pacific region”. He identified greater openness of security audit results, sharing of data, increased collaboration among States, and effective partnering of regulators and industry, as critical elements to achieve more effective aviation security.

International Civil Aviation Organization Secretary General, Raymond Benjamin, praised State representatives “for agreeing on specific actions that reflect the particular security needs of the region while further contributing to a worldwide solution to the problem of terrorism aimed at international aviation”.

To further improve national, regional and global aviation security, participants agreed on collective action to address threats to the air transport system. This includes:

• assistance to States in capacity building and strengthening of national security systems;
• closer cooperation with Customs, border control authorities and other bodies to strengthen the global supply chain system for air cargo; and
• implementation of sustainable security measures to ensure the highest degree of passenger and cargo facilitation.

The Kuala Lumpur Security Conference was the fourth in a series of events aimed at promoting the implementation of an ICAO Declaration on Aviation Security. The first took place in New Delhi (India), followed by Dakar (Senegal) and Moscow (Russia), in advance of a global high-level security conference at ICAO Headquarters in Montréal, from 12 to 14 September. Two other regional conferences are planned for Venezuela in February and the Middle East in April.

*Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Officials from the United Kingdom and the United States also provided advice and discussed partnership opportunities that could benefit aviation security. Other participants included the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA), the Airports Council International (ACI) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA).