ICAO Calls for Greater Efforts to Keep Skies SafeThe 33rd session of Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) began Tuesday in Montreal, calling for greater efforts to keep the skies safe.No one had ever considered terrorists using a civilian airline as a weapon, said Assad Kotaite, president of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Kotaite urged the United Nations body to conduct a high-level, comprehensive review of aviation security. He made the proposal to delegates of 143 member countries who had arrived for the meeting two weeks after devastating terrorist attacks in the United States. "Our primary objective at this assembly is to identify the means by which we can eradicate this new threat and restore confidence in a system that remains fundamentally safe, secure and efficient." Among measures Kotaite proposed for ICAO is a worldwide audit of security measures and a review of ICAO's own procedures. Kotaite also asked that member countries endorse a proposal to establish a fund for airline security to help poorer nations implement adequate safeguards. A 20-member Chinese delegation which include delegates from Hong Kong and Macao was present at meeting. On Tuesday, Canadian police were evident in and around the ICAO building in the city's financial district. Concrete barriers were erected around the ICAO headquarters and people had to pass through metal detectors. Police stood near entrances and in visitors' galleries and other officers in tactical garb sat in cars and vans outside the building. |
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