Obama hails the ICAO for adopting declaration to improve aviation security

Obama hails the ICAO for adopting declaration to improve aviation security

2010-10-10 00:17:08 GMT+7 (ICT)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Saturday hailed the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for adopting a declaration that aims to enhance aviation security.

The 190-member ICAO adopted the Declaration on Aviation Security during a summit held at its Montreal headquarters on Friday. It aims to enhance aviation security through screening technologies to detect prohibited items and strengthen international standards, improve information sharing and providing capacity-building assistance to fellow member states in need.

Obama said the declaration forges a 'historic new foundation' for aviation security that will protect the world from evolving terrorist threats. "Following the attempted December 25th terrorist attack, at my direction, the Department of Homeland Security has worked with ICAO, our international partners, and representatives ranging from airline CEOs to aviation industry trade associations in an unprecedented effort to strengthen international aviation security," he said.

Obama referred to the December 25 attempted terrorist attack when alleged terrorist Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to detonate plastic explosives on board Northwest Airlines Flight 253 as it was about to land in Detroit.

"The extraordinary global collaboration demonstrated by the nearly 190 ICAO countries during the ICAO General Assembly in Montreal has helped to bring about a truly 21st century international aviation security framework that will make air travel safer and more secure than ever before," Obama added.

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano also commended the ICAO for adopting the declaration.

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