Ratu Nailatikau -Address at the opening of the 5th Steering Committee Meeting

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Ratu Nailatikau -Address at the opening of the 5th Steering Committee Meeting
Jun 5, 2008, 15:37

ADDRESS BY THE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION & CIVIL AVIATION, RATU EPELI NAILATIKAU AT THE OPENING OF THE “5th STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
COOPERATIVE AVIATION SECURITY PROGRAMME FOR ASIA & THE PACIFIC”
3RD- 4TH JUNE 2008,

AND

THE “AVIATION SECURITY SEMINAR”
5TH JUNE 2008

AT THE TANOA INTERNATIONAL HOTEL,
NADI, FIJI

1) Director Technical Bureau of the International Civil Aviation Organization, Dr. Ricardo J Heighes Thiessen
2) Chief Asia/Pacific Programme of the International Civil Aviation Organization, Dr. Wolfgang Sander-Fischer
3) Air Law Expert/ Consultant of the International Civil Aviation Organization, Dr. Ludwig Weber
4) Programme Coordinator of the Cooperative Aviation Security Programme for Asia & the Pacific, Mr. Graham Lockwood
5) Senior Representatives of the International Civil Aviation Organization HQ in Montreal and the International Civil Aviation Organization, of the Asia & Pacific Regional Office,
6) Directors of Civil Aviation from the Asia & Pacific Region,
7) Senior Representatives of Regional Airports and Airlines,
8) The CEO of Airports Fiji Limited, Ratu Timoci Tuisawau,
9) The CEO of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Fiji Islands, Mr. Netava Waqa.
10) The CEO of the Air Terminal Services, Mr. Sailosi Soqo,
11) Corporate Sponsors,
Telecom Fiji Limited,
Vodafone Fiji Limited,
CAAFI
AFL
ATS
ANZ Bank
Air
12) Participants,
13) Invited Guests
14) Ladies and Gentlemen

I extend to you all a very warm Fiji welcome.

Bula Vinaka.
Namaste.
Good morning.

At the very outset, I would like to thank the Organizing Committee and in particular the Staff of the AFL for the somber yet dignified Fijian Ceremony of Welcome performed
for me as your Chief Guest. I thank the performers too on behalf of all of our visitors this morning.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Reading the issue of Aviation Week dated 18th February my attention was drawn to the article on ASIA’S AEROSOPACE ASSENT and how Bradley Perrett writing from Beijing said, “Asian aircraft projects are multiplying at a rate that can only alarm industrialists in Europe and the Americas who like to think of their Regions as the real home of aviation technology.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Civil Aviation Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, with participants of the Aviation Security Seminar in Nadi.

While the progress by Asian countries, in building sophisticated aircraft components has long been recognized they are now also engaged in a broad push to get into the business of developing complete, advanced aircraft ……….. the three (Asian) countries that (are) leading this push are Japan with its technically advanced system/industry; China with its economic clout; and the increasingly competitive South Korea…” Not too far behind are Singapore, Malaysia and India.

It is revealing to note that in spite of all these technological advancements, Asia in general has yet to catch up with the Western aerospace production. Neither has any other country in the Asian Region reached the all-around technical capabilities of the United States of America., Russia., or the aerospace leaders of Western Europe. The article went on to say that historically, Asian countries are doing what France did in the 1950’s and 1960s as it sought to catch up with the USA and Britain. These Asian countries are launching a range of projects that are progressively closing the know-how gap.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Pacific Region is very much reliant on its Australasian & Asian brothers in this regard. This is where my Government’s aggressive Look North Policy comes in. Fiji wants to explore tangible economic and technical ties with strategic partners in the Asian Region and further into Europe.

Economically and technologically we are still light years away from being able to stand on our own in so far as self reliance on civil aviation activities/infrastructure in general goes and aircraft production and technical capabilities in particular are concerned. We have the political will though to push ahead with our plans for economic independence. What we lack in expertise and resources we are making up in determination and enthusiasm. To help us get around these setbacks we look forward to the ICAO and our friends in the CASP-AP for guidance and assistance.

We have no doubt that we will get there, one day, soon. We have already embarked on this exciting and promising journey. For instance, our national airline as well as our domestic air carriers have already established arrangements or agreements for the leasing/purchase of aircrafts from countries like Australia and China for use in the international and domestic air operations. The national air carrier is dealing mainly in Boeing Jets from Australia whilst China is delving into the manufacture, and sale, of MA60 and the ARJ21 to the Pacific Region and to other Regions around the globe. Fiji through its local airlines is already quietly contemplating the leasing of Chinese made Y12 aircrafts, given the aircrafts adaptability to local flying conditions.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIP AND COOPERATION:

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Fiji is thankful to the Secretary General of the ICAO Regional Office based in Bangkok and in particular to its immediate past Secretary General, MR. LALIT SHAH for their support in ensuring that Fiji hosts this meeting this year. It would be remiss of me not to mention the role that the immediate past Programme Coordinator, Mr. Kenneth Robinson had played in ensuring that the meeting is held in Fiji – the first time too that the Steering Committee of the CASP-AP is held in the Pacific.

I am exceedingly pleased to see this event taking place in Fiji, and in the Pacific Region for the matter, as it gives Fiji the wonderful opportunity to;

i. Showcase to fellow members of the CASP – Asia and the Pacific, our aviation safety and aviation security infrastructure. The Programme prepared for this meeting includes a Guided Tour of the Nadi International Airport scheduled for the last day of the 2nd part of the meeting that is the AVIATION SECURITY SEMINAR on Thursday 5th June.

ii. Showcase to participants the infrastructure that we had over the last 3 decades been strategically developing and nurturing for use in and to protect our aviation interests.

iii. Ensure the highest level of safety and security for air travelers commuting within our 6.5 million square kilometers of Flight Information Region.

iv. Ensure the highest level of safety and security for air travelers using our international airport facilities in Nadi and Nausori.

v. Highlight to participants the favorable comments made by the ICAO Asia & Pacific Regional Office in Bangkok on the work that Fiji had put into the formulation and design of our National Civil Aviation Security Programme. In March of 2008 the ICAO Bangkok Office completed the evaluation of Fiji’s National Civil Aviation Security Programme (NCASP) and had commented very favorably indeed on the generally high standard adopted. It further added that Fiji’s NCASP conforms precisely to the ICAO model.

Fiji as you are all aware was one of the original members of the Steering Committee Meeting of the CASP-AP and as such we take our membership and our role in this Committee very seriously indeed.

I take this time too to assure the ICAO and the CASP-AP that Fiji will take all necessary steps to keep our contributions to the CASP-AP up-todate.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
In this respect I am happy to see from the List of participants colleagues from Tonga, Marshall Islands, the CEO of the Vanuatu based PASO, etc. I am also happy to know that Australia has joined the CASP-AP. I also welcome intentions by the Government of Brunei to sign on as a member. As I said at the beginning of my address, the CASP-AP partnership is one that is based on mutual respect. Though at different levels of economic and political developments the spirit of comradeship amongst members of the Asia and Pacific Region shine through in areas like the aviation security technical assistance programmes and etc. It is not uncommon then for Regional members to extend to one another a helping hand during times of national need between and amongst members of the 2 Regions.

Let me assure you that small developing countries like Fiji, in the Asia & Pacific Regions are indeed most appreciative and grateful for these gestures.

I hasten to add that in the context of aviation security, and I speak here as a former military man, as long as they affect security in the Asia & Pacific Region, we are each obliged as contracting ICAO member States to;

i. Establish a global and comprehensive aviation security plan of action that are aligned to the ICAO technical cooperation Programmes.

ii. Adopt regional and sub-regional approaches on aviation security issues.

iii. Ensuring compliance with international Conventions, ICAO standards and Recommended Practices and guidance materials related to aviation security by enhancing the security capabilities of the Programme’s participating member Administrations.

iv. Creating a regional structure for cooperation and coordination in aviation security matters.

v. Providing training for aviation security personnel.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
I see from the Meeting Programme that 12 of the 22 member States from the Asia and Pacific Region would be represented at the back to back 3-day meetings of the 5th SCM of the CASP-AP and the Aviation Security Seminar. It is only fitting that such an important meeting also include representatives from regional airlines, air operators and airport management entities as their inputs into the meetings are crucial to its success.

I am happy to also see that you will be joined by senior stakeholders from our domestic aviation sector representing organizations like our Airport Fiji Limited, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Fiji Islands, the Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority, Health Quarantine, Agricultural Quarantine, the Immigration Department, Airlines and the Fiji Police Force.

The outcome of your deliberations at the end of the 3-day meeting will help our experts in the International Civil Aviation Organization put into place for the Asia and Pacific Region measures that will ensure that the senseless acts of terrorism that were perpetuated on the peoples of the United States of America on 9/11/2001 and the peoples of Indonesia in the Bali bombings and all the members of the International Community who died as a result of these acts of terrorism, and like acts since, are not repeated. As we all know these acts of terrorism had prompted the urgent review by the ICAO of civil aviation security measures around the world. The work of the CASP-AP is therefore a logical extension of this.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Since its first meeting in Bangkok in 2004, CASP-AP had since met 4 times. As I had said earlier, Fiji is one of the original members of the CASP-AP and was represented at both the Montreal and the Bangkok meetings in 2002 where the CASP-AP was conceived. Fiji notes that the programme was intended to run for 3 years i.e. from April - December 2005, through 2006, and onto 2007 and up to and including the 31 March 2008. The CASP-AP is doing excellent work. This must be acknowledged. This good work by the CASP-AP is evident by its increasing membership, which to-date stands at 22 States and Administrations. Naturally, it is only good sense to extend the CASP-AP programme by 15 months through to July 2009 to allow members to fully benefit from it..

Let me remind you all that the fight against terrorism is never ending – it requires constant and meticulous vigilance.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
I wish the meeting well and invite you all to sample some of Fiji’s hospitality & beauty whilst you are here. I am sure that by the end of the 3 days of discussions/deliberations, you all will need a relaxing break.

In concluding I would like to thank the ICAO and the Secretary General of the ICAO Asia & Pacific Regional Office for the intimation that Fiji will be receiving the first Mission to Fiji under the CASP-AP, soon.

Invited Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have the singular honor to declare the back to back 5th STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE COOPERATIVE AVIATION SECURITY PROGRAMME FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC, and the AVIATION SECURITY SEMINAR officially open.

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