Saudi Arabia has been unanimously reelected head of the International Aviation Security Team of Experts (IASTE) of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The decision was recently taken during the 19th meeting of the organization in Montréal, Canada. Administration supervisor for aviation security in the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Abdul-Hameed Hammad, was collectively chosen to continue as head of AISTE meeting's 19th session. The election was held at the opening session in the presence of Chairman of the Board of the ICAO, Roberto Kobeh, and General Secretary of the ICAO, Al-Tayeb Sharief. Saud Hashim, the Kingdom's prominent representative to the ICAO, also attended the session. Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al-Rihaimy, President of the Saudi General Authority for Civil Aviation, pointed out that the reelection of the Kingdom reflects its important position in the organization. He also emphasized that the election mirrors the Kingdom's important role in transport industry. “This is another assertion by the international community of the great role that the GACA has been playing in the field of civil aviation,” Al-Rihaimy said. The ICAO, a specialized agency of the United Nations, was established in 1944 to promote safe and systematic development in civil aviation. The international organization sets necessary standards and regulations for aviation safety, security, effectiveness and reliability, with environmental protection concerns. Since it was first elected for membership in 1986, Saudi Arabia has effectively kept its seat in of the council of the international organization. __
