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