Before ICAO Council, Qatar Refutes UAE Claims of Intercept Its Civil Aircraft

Doha, May 17 (QNA) - The Council of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) held Thursday a special session to consider the complaint filed by the UAE against the State of Qatar alleging that Qatari fighters intercepted UAE civil aircraft. The UAE has requested the activation of Article 54 / N of the Chicago Convention. The delegation of the State of Qatar was presided over by HE Chairman of Qatar Civil Aviation Authority Abdullah bin Nasser Turki Al Subaey. The session began with a presentation made by the UAE delegation, in which they claimed that Qatari fighter jets Intercepted UAE civil aircraft more than once. Then HE Chairman of Qatar Civil Aviation Authority Abdullah bin Nasser Turki Al Subaey, addressed the Council of the Organization, giving a speech where he refuted all UAE allegations. He pointed out that the air navigation service provider in the Kingdom of Bahrain is fully responsible for not taking the necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of civil aviation, maintain Qatar's sovereignty and airspace prevent repeated UAE provocations. Following HE Al Subaey's speech, Qatari technicians from the Qatari delegation, who are well known for their competence and professionalism, gave a detailed presentation of UAE violations of Qatari airspace. During the presentation, they confirmed the State of Qatar's commitment to the highest standards of air safety and security. They also proved to the Council of ICAO that the Kingdom of Bahrain has recently allowed the UAE military aircraft to violate the sovereignty of the State of Qatar and not comply with the requirements of the State of Qatar outlined in the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP), which is a clear provocation and lack of professionalism in the provision of air navigation services. The members of the Council of the Organization presented their comments and comments and stressed the need to support and confirm the request of the State of Qatar for coordination, cooperation, communication and the provision of flight information necessary to ensure the safety and security of civil aviation. Having the above-mentioned presentations heard, the Council opened the discussion to all members, who have provided interventions and queries. The Members of the ICAO Council stressed the importance of support the request of the State of Qatar on the need for coordination, cooperation, communication and providing aviation information necessary to ensure the security and safety of civil aviation. The Council then decided that all parties should abide by the highest standards of security and safety, stressing the need for full coordination between the Contracting States of the 1944 Chicago Convention and its annexes. HE the Chairman of Qatar Civil Aviation Authority affirmed that since the beginning of the siege imposed on it, the State of Qatar has fully complied with all agreements relating to civil aviation, including the Chicago Convention 1944. He pointed that Qatar not adopt the same logic while dealing with the siege countries, and did not close its airspace before their civil aircraft. He further praised the role played by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in maintaining the security, safety and efficiency of civil aviation in the Gulf region. He also thanked the Council of the Organization for assuming all its responsibilities for the safety and security of civil aviation, expressing hope that ICAO would continue to support the civil aviation industry in the region and to urge the siege countries to comply with the Chicago Convention of 1944 and its annexes, in addition to other international conventions in the field of civil aviation. (QNA)