Readout of Secretary Napolitano's Meeting with Brazilian Minister of Defense Nelson Jobim

Press Release

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today met with Brazilian Minister of Defense Nelson Jobim to reaffirm the shared commitment of the United States and Brazil to strengthening the global aviation system. The United States and Brazil signed a Joint Statement of Intent on aviation security between DHS, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Empresa Brasileira de Infra-Estrutura Aeroportuária (INFRAERO), a state-owned company which operates under the Brazilian Ministry of Defense.

"Together, the international community is forging a 21st century international aviation security framework that will make air travel safer and more secure than ever before," said Secretary Napolitano. "I look forward to working closely with my Brazilian counterparts to continue our unprecedented collaboration to better protect the international aviation system."

During today's meeting, Secretary Napolitano and Minister Jobim highlighted their mutual commitment to strengthening aviation security through enhanced employee training and continued collaboration by both nations to develop and implement best practices regarding screening, equipment testing and certification and airport security standards.

Secretary Napolitano also applauded Brazil's support for the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) recent adoption of a historic Declaration on Aviation Security--forging a new foundation for aviation security that will better protect the entire global aviation system from evolving terrorist threats.

Following the attempted Dec. 25 terrorist attack, DHS partnered with ICAO and international partners--including representatives from the private sector ranging from airline CEOs to airport authorities to aviation industry trade associations--at five regional aviation security summits on five continents, as well as the ICAO Triennial Assembly in Montreal earlier this month, in an unprecedented effort to strengthen international aviation security.

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