Readout of Secretary Napolitano's Visit to Canada

Press Release

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Transportation Security Administration Administrator John S. Pistole, and Assistant Secretary for International Affairs Alan Bersin today visited Montréal to meet with international partners to discuss aviation security and efforts to secure the global supply chain, and to participate in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) High-level Conference on Aviation Security.

"ICAO has been critical to bringing countries around the world together in a coordinated effort to improve aviation security," said Secretary Napolitano. "Working together, the international community has forged a new foundation for aviation security, making air travel safer and more secure than ever before."

While in Montréal, Secretary Napolitano delivered remarks during the Formal Opening for the ICAO High-level Conference on Aviation Security, highlighting the international progress in strengthening aviation security and securing the global supply chain. In 2010, the ICAO General Assembly adopted a Declaration on Aviation Security, a major international achievement that provided a global, unified vision for strengthening aviation security.

During her remarks, Secretary Napolitano urged members of ICAO to approve the enhanced international Standards and Recommended Practices for air cargo and mail security; support the evolution of ICAO's airport audit program; adopt baseline standards for global border and transportation security; and develop standards for next-generation travel documents.

Secretary Napolitano, Administrator Pistole and Assistant Secretary Bersin also met with U.S. Ambassador to ICAO Duane Woerth, Canadian Minister of Transport Denis Lebel, Secretary General of ICAO Raymond Benjamin, and representatives from various delegations to reaffirm their commitment to working together to achieve shared security goals.

Yesterday, Secretary Napolitano, Administrator Pistole, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Deputy Commissioner David V. Aguilar and Assistant Secretary Bersin met with Canadian Public Safety Minister Vic Toews to discuss progress in implementing the Beyond the Border Action Plan, released by President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Harper in December 2011.

For more information, please visit www.dhs.gov.

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