International civil aviation organization to convene high-level meeting on security

The United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) today decided to convene a high-level ministerial conference on aviation security next year.

To be held in Montreal on19 and 20 February, the conference flows from the recent 33rd session of the ICAO Assembly, which, in the wake of the 11 September attacks against the United States, adopted a resolution on the "misuse of civil aircraft as weapons of destruction and other terrorist acts involving civil aviation," ICAO said in a statement issued today.

"The high-level, ministerial conference will consider the issue of restoration of confidence in air travel and restoration of health to the air transport industry," said Dr. Assad Kotaite, President of the ICAO Council, which decided to convene the conference.

With an overall objective of "preventing, combating and eradicating acts of terrorism involving civil aviation," the conference is expected to endorse an ICAO Plan of Action for Strengthening Aviation security and reaffirm the responsibility of States to provide aviation security for their territories.

The meeting's agenda includes a review of existing aviation security conventions and of the ICAO aviation security programme. The conference will also consider a plan for enhancing ICAO activities in the field of aviation security, identify resources required for additional security measures in States, and seek resource commitments by governments, international organizations and industry.