JEDDAH — The Montreal-based Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has refused to politicize Qatar’s air navigation crisis. The ICAO clarified this in its decision regarding Qatar’s complaint against the four Arab states calling to fight terrorism. The council recognized the existence of political issues among the states and that the concerned states should address them in appropriate international forums away from ICAO.

Abdul Hakeem Al Tamimi, president of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), praised the decision of ICAO, saying “these decisions underscore the neutrality of the organization and its commitment to the role for which it was established: it is maintaining the safety of civil aviation throughout the world.”

Al-Tamimi appreciated the abstention of ICAO and its distinguished council from getting into political matters. The council members stressed that the discussion on this issue would be in specialized forums. Chairing the session, the council president emphasized that New York was only an hour away from Montreal.

In its resolutions, the council urged all member states of ICAO to continue cooperation to enhance the safety, security, efficiency and sustainability of international civil aviation. It also appreciated the four Arab states for their spirit of cooperation during the special session.

The council also welcomed the commitment of the four Arab states to continue technical consultations under the umbrella of ICAO to ensure the application of technical solutions, and requested the secretariat to provide information on a regular basis as well as to submit an updated report for consideration by the council at its next session.

The council appreciated the initiatives of its general secretariat and the states concerned for making emergency arrangements in the Gulf region. It requested the secretariat to continue to coordinate with concerned states as well as their neighboring states to ensure the speedy implementation of emergency arrangements.

In this regard, Tamimi said the members of the council commended the steps taken by the four countries to open new emergency routes to help the flow of air traffic on the high seas, stressing that the emergency corridors are temporary ones that are established in exceptional cases and at high altitude air traffic in a limited area.

Tamimi stressed that the Kingdom’s sovereign airspace is still closed to the aircraft registered in Qatar. — SPA