The United Nations and the Russian Federation held the Ninth Annual Aviation Talks on 1 August 2023 in Moscow.
The United Nations was represented by Mr. Atul Khare, Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support. The delegation of the Russian Federation was led by Mr. Alexander Neradko, Director General of the Federal Air Transport Agency.
The two sides discussed issues related to the aviation services provided by commercial air operators registered in the Russian Federation to United Nations field operations.
Mr. Alexander Neradko emphasized the longstanding cooperation between the commercial aviation providers of the Russian Federation and the United Nations. USG Khare expressed his satisfaction with the contributions of those companies, particularly during special situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
The parties covered a wide range of issues, including safety and security and procurement. They discussed the Significant Safety Concern (SSC) issued by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the efforts made by the Russian authorities toward addressing the issues raised by ICAO.
The United Nations Department of Operational Support and the Federal Air Transport Agency agreed to continue the dialogue on a regular basis.