TOKYO, JAPAN -- 03/13/10 --
The Honourable Rob Merrifield, Minister of State (Transport), met today with Canada's international partners in the Asia Pacific Region to address the risks to civil aviation security and improve the effectiveness of security measures.
High-level officials from Australia, Cambodia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the United States of America and Vietnam attended, as well as the Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
"Our government remains vigilant against the threat of terrorism and unwavering in its determination to keep Canadians and those who use our airways safe and secure," said Minister Merrifield. "This can only be achieved through continued support for enhancements to global aviation security, international collaboration, information sharing, research and development."
Civil aviation is an integral part of Canada's economy. A large number of Canadian companies rely on aviation for the safe and secure trades with the rest of the world and approximately 50 million people travel by air in Canada each year. In light of terrorist incidents aimed at aviation, security threats pose a common risk to aviation activity for all international partners.
Key aspects of the discussions included:
- broadening existing cooperation mechanisms among countries for early
detection of security threats to passenger security and the industry's
well-being;
- sharing best practices and information in areas such as screening and
inspection techniques, chemical and weapon detection, airport security,
screening and credentials of airport employees; and
- using modern technologies to detect prohibited materials while
respecting the privacy and civil liberties of individuals.
"All governments can learn from the failed terrorist attack of December 25, 2009," added Minister Merrifield. "Our government announced in its recent budget significant investments to continue to maintain secure air travel."
A joint declaration by ministers and high-level officials at the meeting can be found at http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/mediaroom/backgrounders-5856.htm.
This is the second joint statement on aviation security signed between Canada and international partners. The first statement was issued between Canada and representatives from Western Hemisphere countries on February 17, 2010 and is available at www.tc.gc.ca/eng/mediaroom/backgrounders-5835.htm.
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BACKGROUNDER
Asia-Pacific Joint Declaration on Aviation Security
Tokyo, Japan
13 March 2010
1. We, the Ministers responsible for aviation security, or their designated
Representatives, from the governments of Australia, Cambodia, Canada,
China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New
Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, United
States of America, and Viet Nam, and jointly with the Secretary General
of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), met in Tokyo,
Japan on 13 March 2010 and affirmed our commitment to fight terrorism in
all its forms, with particular attention to countering threats against
civil aviation. We reaffirmed the need to enhance international aviation
security standards and measures in order to respond more effectively to
new and emerging threats, such as the attempted terrorist attack on a
US-bound aircraft on 25 December 2009.
2. We consider terrorism a serious threat against all societies and condemn
every form of terrorism, including the exploitation of civil aviation,
without regard to where or when it is committed, by whom, or the
ideologies supporting it. As such, we share the responsibility to act
against terrorism as a whole, using all the resources available in
accordance with both domestic and international law.
3. The attempted attack on 25 December 2009 has, once again, reminded us
that civil aviation remains a key target for terrorism and that
international cooperation is essential to counter such transnational
threats. As a geographically and culturally diverse region, the Asia-
Pacific depends on the international civil aviation network to connect
its societies and facilitate its economic growth. For these reasons and
recognizing the significant number of domestic, regional, trans-Pacific,
and international flights that are potentially subject to terrorist
attack, it is incumbent on us to work together, and with the aviation
industry to enhance aviation security throughout the region.
4. In this joint statement, we endorse our mutual determination to address
such threats together in our region.
We hereby express our intent to:
1. Encourage governments represented at this conference, pursuant to their
domestic laws, regulations and programs on civil aviation security, and
in accordance with applicable Standards and Recommended Practices
(SARPs) of ICAO and the capacity of each State/administration, to
promote the implementation of aviation security measures in a practical
manner to:
-- Broaden existing cooperation mechanisms among our
countries/administrations and with other parties to the Chicago
Convention, and the civil aviation industry, as appropriate, for
information exchange and early detection of security threats to
passenger security and the industry's well-being;
-- Share expertise, best practices and information in a range of areas
related to civil aviation, such as screening and inspection techniques,
detection of weapons, explosives and hazardous materials, airport
security, behavioral detection, screening and credentialing of airport
employees, human resource development, and research and development of
relevant technologies; and
-- Utilize modern technologies to detect prohibited materials and to
prevent the carriage of such materials on board aircraft while
respecting the privacy and safety of individuals.
2. Consider necessary changes to relevant security provisions of ICAO
SARPs, including in Annex 17 and the sharing of passenger information,
in order to address new and emerging threats to civil aviation;
3. Examine information exchange mechanisms, including the use of liaison
officers, and further use of Advance Passenger Information (API)
provided by air carriers, to reduce the risk to air travelers and
others, while ensuring effective protection for our citizens' privacy
and civil liberties;
4. Examine enhancing measures for onboard flight protection;
5. Seek to achieve both a high level of security and the facilitation of
passenger travel by various methods including the use of biometrics;
6. Strengthen and promote travel document security and reporting, on a
regular basis, lost and stolen passports, to the extent possible, to the
INTERPOL Lost and Stolen Travel Document Database;
7. Develop and implement, in accordance with ICAO policies and in
coordination with other appropriate international partners,
internationally strengthened and harmonized measures and best practices
for air cargo security, taking into account the need to protect the
entire air cargo supply chain;
8. Promote capacity-building activities in the Asia-Pacific region to
enhance aviation security of the region as a whole, recognizing the need
to develop capacity to also correct deficiencies identified under the
Universal Security Audit Programme of ICAO. To this end, the assistance
and development mechanisms should be strengthened;
9. Continue working together, with other international partners and with
the aviation industry toward greater travel security; and
10. Urge the ICAO Assembly at its meeting 28 September - 8 October 2010 to
adopt a resolution that reflects the principles contained in this
declaration and that confirms civil aviation security will be accorded
one of the highest priorities during the forthcoming ICAO triennium.
Contacts:
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
