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| 7/10/08 - Fiji to sign Pacific Islands Civil Aviation Safety and Security Treaty |
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Fiji will sign the Pacific Islands Civil Aviation Safety Security Treaty (PICASST) the legal framework for the Pacific Aviation Safety Office (PASO).
The signing of the PICASST will allow Fiji to become a full member of PASO.
Cabinet based its decision on a submission by the Prime Minister and Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Civil Aviation, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.
The Prime Minister said that the Forum Aviation Minister’s meeting that was held in Apia Samoa in March 2001 agreed to establish the Pacific Aviation Safety Office (PASO).
“The establishment of PASO while fully acknowledging “the global basis of civil aviation encompassed by the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation and its related Protocols and Amendments” was based on four principles.
“These include recognizing the difficulties faced by individual States in discharging their obligations and responsibilities under the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation and its related Protocols and Amendments, recognizing the disadvantages to individual States of a standardised regional approach to civil aviation safety and security regulatory oversight; confirming the decision of the Pacific Islands Forum Aviation Ministers to establish a cooperative and regionally based safety and security regulatory organization to meet the needs of Pacific island States; and desiring to ensure the highest degree of safety and security in air transport and reaffirming the grave concern about acts or threats against the security of aircraft expressed by Pacific Islands Forum Aviation Ministers.”
The Prime Minister said that as of today, Fiji remains a member of the PASO Council but is not a signatory to its Treaty, the PICASST.
He said that collaboration of member States of the Forum Island Countries on issues of common interest to them is most important.
“Equally important is for Fiji, as a major player in the region, to continue to support PASO and its operation ensuring aviation safety and security in the region.
He added that PASO is part of the Pacific Plan initiative currently being coordinated by the Forum Secretariat and a good example of cooperation and its success depends very much on its management and member states.
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No:1733
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