On 27 September 2017, the Security Council held a meeting on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, particularly focusing on aviation security. The Secretary-General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Fang Liu briefed the Council on the new ICAO Global Aviation Security Plan.
Enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of global provisions in aviation in general, the plan will specifically support both UN Security Council resolution 2309 (2016) and the United Nations Global Counter-terrorism Strategy, Secretary-General Liu said. She further noted five priority areas the plan aims to address: enhancing risk awareness and response; establishing a better-defined security culture; improving technological resources and fostering innovation; improving oversight and quality assurance; and increasing cooperation and support.
Chairman of the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee and Egypt’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, H.E. Amr Aboulatta, recognized the central role that the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) plays in supporting the implementation of key resolutions, including 2309 (2017). As evidenced by CTED’s assessments and analysis work, Mr. Aboulatta pointed out, only 57 Member States have introduced an Advance Passenger Information (API) system.
“The low level of API implementation represents a major security gap,” Ambassador Aboulatta said.
The webcast of the proceedings can be accessed here.
ICAO Secretary-General Fang Liu’s statement is available here.
Counter-Terrorism Committee Chairman Amr Aboulatta’s statement is available here.