TOKYO, JAPAN--(Marketwire - March 13, 2010) - 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.

Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at
 www.tc.gc.ca/e-news and keep up to date on the latest from Transport Canada.

This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons living with visual disabilities.

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.