Dole Unveils Plan to Fight Air Terrorism

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elizabeth Hanford Dole, describing air terrorism as a “burgeoning global menace,” called today for urgent international action to safeguard world aviation.

Dole, speaking to a special meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization, presented a seven-point proposal to fight back against a wave of airplane hijackings and bombings.

“International terrorism is a burgeoning global menace against which this international organization must take further measures,” Dole told the 33-member governing council of the organization, a U.N. agency based in Montreal.

‘Time for Courage’

“This is a time for concerted effort and courage throughout the civilized world,” she said. “We must act with all the strength and unity we can draw together. We must send international terrorists and their sponsors a clear message that we will never appease them. We must, in short, prevail, or else our children will inherit a world of infernal barbarism.”

Dole urged the organization to:

--Focus its attention with greater urgency on international terrorism.

--Monitor various countries’ investigations of recent attacks on airplanes and airports.

--Examine security practices for aircraft and cargo, and consider recommending “a vastly increased security program.”

--Review existing standards on prevention and resolution of hijackings.

--Set up a method for international inspections of security procedures at airports around the world.

--Consider expanding the agency’s training program.

--Call a special session of the full 156-nation organization membership for late summer to review progress in improving aviation security.

The agency sets standards and recommends procedures for all aspects of civil aviation, including security at international airports, but does not have authority to enforce the rules on security. Enforcement is up to each of the 156 member nations.

Canadian Transport Minister Donald Mazankowski presented a similar package of proposals this morning, and also suggested establishing an international group of experts to investigate serious breaches of security.

Mazankowski said Canadians, until now, had been relatively free of air terrorism.

“The fact that terrorists have chosen to strike in one of the most nonviolent countries in the world underscores how vulnerable every country is,” he said.

“We share a common problem.”