The Ministry of Transport’s undersecretary for Civil Aviation Affairs Captain Abdulrahman Mohammed Al-Gauod, inaugurated in the presence of the UAE Civil Aviation Authority’s chief Saif bin Mohammed Al-Swaidi – who is also the chairman of the Arabian Authority for Civil Aviation’s Executive Council –the regional aviation security forum hosted in the Kingdom of Bahrain in the Movenpick Hotel (Bahrain) with participation of delegations from 12 countries, organized by the Civil Aviation Affairs in the Ministry of Transportation in collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) during the period 27-28 June 2012.
The Civil Aviation Affairs Undersecretary expressed utmost gratitude and appreciation to the Kingdom’s wise leadership and government for their support and assistance to the Civil Aviation sector in t he Kingdom, citing a recently passed cabinet resolution for the creation of the National Commission for Aviation Security presided over by the Minister of Transportation which reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to the safety and security of aviation, passengers and air cargo in compliance with international conventions and resolutions for this purpose.
This is the third instance within two months in which the Civil Aviation Affairs directorate has hosted an important regional event: the first was under the umbrella of the International Air Travel Agency (IATA) and the second is a regional gathering convened under the umbrella of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and discusses constant cooperation and joint work aimed at compliance with standard rules, recommended techniques to prevent any illegal interference into civil aviation or its facilities or services.
Aviation has become an essential pivotal foundation for cooperation between all civil aviation authorities all over the world or regionally-wise. All governmental or non-governmental authorities seek to achieve security and preempt any illegal meddling under various challenging circumstances in view of increasingly growing tensions and threats facing the aviation industry.
The International Civil aviation Organization (ICAO) regional director Mohammed Khonji expressed gratitude and appreciation for hosting this important meeting and praised facilitation provided by the Kingdom of Bahrain’s government represented in the Civil Aviation Affairs department for organizing this conference which brings in all Middle East and North African (MENA) countries under one umbrella in order to discuss the resolution passed in 2010 by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aimed at boosting civil aviation safety and security.
Khonji added that he aspires for establishing a regional coordination office for civil aviation security to serve the Middle East and North African (MENA) region similar to the regional coordination office for the Pacific which serves 24 countries.
Bahrain is a nominee to host this regional coordination office and to host a series of conferences and forum pertaining to aviation security.
The conference was joined by high profile delegations from the UAE, State of Kuwait, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sultanate of Oman, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Republic of Yemen, Lebanese Republic, the Republic of Algeria, Libya, Sudan, Iraq as well as the hosting country the Kingdom of Bahrain.