ASSA-I calls for quality of cargo screening to be enhanced globally
Greece suspended overseas shipment of mail and packages for 48 hours on 03-Nov-2010 following the explosion of small bombs at Swiss and Russian embassies in Athens on 02-Nov-2010 (Reuters, 03-Nov-2010). Luxembourg also announced it is putting in place "adequate measures" to protect recipients of "a series of" parcels bombs that have been sent from Greece (Bloomberg, 04-Nov-2010). Luxembourg-based European Union institutions, such as the EU's highest court, have been among the known recipients of the parcels that include explosives.
Germany called for tighter European Union security controls on air freight, with Chancellor Angela Merkel stating: "This event (the discovery of the Yemen bombs), as well as the problem we just had with a suspicious package at the chancellery, are a reason to harmonise controls on freight goods within Europe, with the United States and globally where possible" (Monsters and Critics, 03-Nov-2010).
Pakistan's Federal Government also issued a "high terror alert" at all international airports in the country, specifically on out-bound air cargo to foreign destinations (Xinhua, 03-Nov-2010).
Aviation Security Services Association International (ASSA-I) called (03-Nov-2010) for the quality of the screening methods used for cargo, on both freighter aircraft and passenger services, to be enhanced across the globe, in particular the requirement of the EU to enforce the X-ray of all packages placed on passenger aircraft.
ASSA-I: "ASSA-I stresses the need for a more global and stringent approach to cargo security, based on a high quality approach that combines the installation of the appropriate technology to screen these goods and well trained security guards to handle these technologies adequately. ASSA-I believes that the aviation industry is a global business and there is a need for effective security regimes across the world." Hilde De Clerck, General Secretary. [more]
Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) Director General Andrew Herdman reinforced (03-Nov-2010) the "importance of effective intelligence gathering, and the need for governments to work closely with industry in developing and applying appropriate operational measures". [more]
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) head John Pistole joined officials from Germany's Federal Ministry of the Interior (MOI) and Ministry of Transport (MOT) in signing a joint declaration that provides the framework for additional collaboration on aviation security on 02-Nov-2010. [more]