Iraq
Kurdistan Region Interior Minister Reber Ahmed addressing the conference of the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) auditing process in Erbil on February 5, 2023. Photo: Julian Bechocha/Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq on Sunday launched preparations to comply with an auditing process of the United Nations in order to advance its aviation security compliance and oversight capabilities in a joint conference with the agency in Erbil.
The conference intends to conduct the Universal Security Audit Programme Continuous Monitoring Approach (USAP-CMA) process and evaluate the progress of Erbil International Airport and was held by the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) and an international auditing team of the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) with the presence of the Kurdistan Region’s interior minister.
“It is very important for us that for the first time in history, the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority is included in the procedures of the ICAO and is participating in the audit process,” Minister Reber Ahmed said during the conference, describing Erbil’s airport as the “prime example of the security measures” taken to protect travelers.
Ahmed also extended the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) support to the ICAO and the ICAA to ensure the audit’s success.
“We are proud that there have been no security problems at Erbil airport so far resulting from our negligence or our shortcomings,” Ahmed added.
The objective of the USAP-CMA is to improve global aviation security through auditing and continuous monitoring of the aviation security performance of Member States, according to ICAO.
During the conference, the head of ICAA Emad al-Assadi said he firmly believes that Iraq’s airports possess all the necessary qualifications needed to pass the international security audit.
“The process starts with Erbil airport but the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority is unified. Even though as of now only Erbil and Sulaimani airports are being audited, this is a unified process and will soon be conducted for all of Iraq,” Assadi told Rudaw’s Payam Sarbast following the conference while labeling the security situation of the Kurdistan Region’s capital’s airport as “excellent.”
Speaking to Rudaw English, the ICAA head reiterated claims by Iraqi officials that the country has complete control over its airspace and that previous violations of its sovereignty from the skies by neighboring Turkey have been “met with an abrupt end and a strong response by the Iraqi government.”
Ahmed Hoshyar, the CEO of Erbil International Airport, confirmed to Rudaw that the activities of the auditing process and security checks in Erbil airport are ongoing and will last for 15 days.
“The auditing process is to guarantee the safety of airlines that want to use Erbil’s airport,” Hoshyar said, expressing hope that airlines would seek this opportunity to open new routes to Erbil, including a potential direct flight route from the United States.
Iraq is a signatory of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, signed in 1944 by 52 states, which entitles it to comply with international safety standards for tourism, airspace sovereignty, aircraft registration, and security of air travel.
The conference intends to conduct the Universal Security Audit Programme Continuous Monitoring Approach (USAP-CMA) process and evaluate the progress of Erbil International Airport and was held by the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) and an international auditing team of the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) with the presence of the Kurdistan Region’s interior minister.
“It is very important for us that for the first time in history, the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority is included in the procedures of the ICAO and is participating in the audit process,” Minister Reber Ahmed said during the conference, describing Erbil’s airport as the “prime example of the security measures” taken to protect travelers.
Ahmed also extended the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) support to the ICAO and the ICAA to ensure the audit’s success.
“We are proud that there have been no security problems at Erbil airport so far resulting from our negligence or our shortcomings,” Ahmed added.
The objective of the USAP-CMA is to improve global aviation security through auditing and continuous monitoring of the aviation security performance of Member States, according to ICAO.
During the conference, the head of ICAA Emad al-Assadi said he firmly believes that Iraq’s airports possess all the necessary qualifications needed to pass the international security audit.
“The process starts with Erbil airport but the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority is unified. Even though as of now only Erbil and Sulaimani airports are being audited, this is a unified process and will soon be conducted for all of Iraq,” Assadi told Rudaw’s Payam Sarbast following the conference while labeling the security situation of the Kurdistan Region’s capital’s airport as “excellent.”
Speaking to Rudaw English, the ICAA head reiterated claims by Iraqi officials that the country has complete control over its airspace and that previous violations of its sovereignty from the skies by neighboring Turkey have been “met with an abrupt end and a strong response by the Iraqi government.”
Ahmed Hoshyar, the CEO of Erbil International Airport, confirmed to Rudaw that the activities of the auditing process and security checks in Erbil airport are ongoing and will last for 15 days.
“The auditing process is to guarantee the safety of airlines that want to use Erbil’s airport,” Hoshyar said, expressing hope that airlines would seek this opportunity to open new routes to Erbil, including a potential direct flight route from the United States.
Iraq is a signatory of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, signed in 1944 by 52 states, which entitles it to comply with international safety standards for tourism, airspace sovereignty, aircraft registration, and security of air travel.
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