RIYADH — Saudi Arabia on Saturday won a permanent seat in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) council at the UN, during the body's general assembly meeting. Minister of Transport and Chairman of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) Dr. Nabil Bin Muhammad Al-Amoudi described the victory as reflecting the appreciation of the ICAO member states of the Kingdom's positive role in dealing with the air transport industry data, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said. Saudi Arabia has been winning the seat successively since 1986 in the elections held every three years. Dr. Al-Amoudi pointed out that this successive victory clearly reflects the prestigious international status enjoyed by the Kingdom in civil aviation related international forums, especially the ICAO, indicating that the Kingdom has never hesitated in providing support to programs and plans of ICAO. Dr. Al-Amoudi drew attention to the fact that the Kingdom has participated with Saudi experts in the committees and specialist working teams. The Kingdom is also hosting the permanent headquarters of the Regional Safety Oversight Organization for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA RSOO), an affiliate of ICAO. In addition, the Kingdom is hosting and financing the permanent headquarters of the Cooperative Aviation Security Program — Middle East (CASP – MID), an affiliate of ICAO. Dr. Al-Amoudi referred to the Kingdom's contribution in the field of protection of the civil aviation environment. The Kingdom was the first country to voluntarily join the Carbon Compensation and Reducing Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). The Kingdom has also been working in an ambitious program, in cooperation with all the pertinent authorities, foremost of which is the ICAO, in developing the conventional aviation fuel so as to reach "a low carbon aviation fuel". The Kingdom carried out an effective role in supporting the work of ICAO by providing Saudi experts to work in the ICAO Secretariat General. Furthermore, the Kingdom is bearing all their expenses in the fields of air aviation, aviation security and international legal affairs for the organization.
