OSCE Secretariat and IATA sign co-operation agreement aiming to contribute to international efforts to enhance aviation security

GENEVA, 14 October 2016 – OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier and Director General and Chief Executive Alexandre de Juniac of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Geneva today to intensify co-operation and support international efforts for enhancing aviation security and preventing the travel of foreign terrorist fighters.

On the basis of the Memorandum of Understanding, the OSCE Secretariat and IATA will enhance their co-operation by sharing information, consulting each other on policy issues, participating in each other’s meetings and leveraging existing resources to the benefit of the OSCE participating States. This will be done through joint projects, training courses, technical assistance and through facilitating thematic discussions and exchanges of best practices at the regional and sub-regional levels.

“Our organizations enjoy excellent co-operation in the areas of aviation facilitation, national security and border integrity. The signing of this Memorandum marks another important milestone in further expanding and strengthening this co-operation,” said Zannier. “We are very pleased to join hands with IATA today to promote aviation security and facilitation measures in furthering the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 2178 on Foreign Terrorist Fighters and 2309 on Aviation Security across the OSCE region.”

In line with their mandates, OSCE and IATA will work on a variety of issues, including harmonized passenger data exchange programs, border security, airport security and the security of travel documents and can provide assistance, upon request, in the process of establishing systems to support the OSCE participating States in preventing the travel of foreign terrorist fighters.

“Aviation security is a top priority for IATA and its members. With passenger numbers set to double over the next 20 years, it is essential that the global aviation security network is fit for purpose. IATA and OSCE are natural partners in the security facilitation and border integrity fields. We share the objective of achieving a more efficient and effective aviation security system,” said de Juniac.