During recent visits to Madagascar and the Comoros, ICAO Council President Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu met with senior government officials and promoted the Organization’s “No Country Left Behind” Campaign aimed at helping States implement international standards set forth by the UN agency. At left, Madam Bahiat Massoundi, Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Promotion of New Technologies of Information and Communication, in charge of Transport and Tourism for Comoros, ICAO Council President Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, H.E. Hery Rajaonarimampianina, President of Madagascar, H.E. Dr. Elham M.A. Ibrahim, African Union Commissioner, Energy and Infrastructure, and Mr. Abdulai Alhassan, President, African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC). At right, President Aliu is seen shaking hands with H.E. Dr. Ikililou Dhoinine, President of the Union of the Comoros.
MONTRÉAL, 15 April 2015 – As part of the UN body’s ongoing campaign to enhance the implementation of international aviation standards worldwide, the Council President of the International Civil Aviation Organization, Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, recently visited the Africa/Indian Ocean (AFI) States of Madagascar and the Comoros to reaffirm his Organization’s commitment to help them more fully realize the benefits of safe and reliable international air services.
During his visit to the Comoros from 28 to 31 March, President Aliu met with the President of the Union of Comoros, His Excellency Dr. Ikililou Dhoinine, and senior government officials to review the progress made on the implementation of the ICAO Plan of Action for the Comoros and on the Abuja Safety Targets adopted by the African Ministerial Conference in 2012. Discussions also focused on ways and means of enhancing the State’s safety and security oversight capabilities and on ICAO’s full support for the ‘Vanilla Island’ initiative promoting air transport and tourism in the AFI region.
“It is a top priority for our Organization to assist our States to the fullest extent possible with respect to the implementation of ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs),” emphasized President Aliu. “The management services agreement recently concluded between the Union of the Comoros and ICAO will greatly assist this goal, and I strongly encourage the Comoros to continue to work towards the establishment of appropriate civil aviation legislation and an effective, autonomous authority to oversee it.”
Prior to visiting the Comoros, President Aliu was in Madagascar attending the meeting on the Sustainable Development of Air Transport in Africa, from 25–27 March. The event resulted in the adoption of a new Declaration and, during a subsequent meeting with the President of the Republic of Madagascar, His Excellency Hery Rajaonarimampianina, President Aliu commended the country’s progress with respect to SARP implementation and in meeting the Abuja Targets.
“The funding coordination support we are now providing to Madagascar through ICAO’s SAFE Fund programme will be instrumental to strengthening its aviation safety oversight capabilities ,” President Aliu stressed. “We realize our best results in global aviation by working together and I am very encouraged by what we are now seeing progressed through greater partnership and cooperation in ICAO’s AFI Region.”
In addition to the high-level meetings conducted, President Aliu’s visit also included tours of local air navigation and airport facilities. In Madagascar, President Aliu toured the Air Madagascar Maintenance centre located at Ivato International Airport. While in the Comoros, he visited the expansion and modernization project currently underway at Moroni Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport.
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