*EPF407 06/27/2002
Fact Sheet: White House Outlines G-8 Transport Security Action
(Complements U.S. border initiative with Canada, Mexico) (670)

The White House issued a fact sheet June 26 on the Group of Eight (G-8) leaders' agreement on cooperative actions they will take to improve transport security. The agreement was announced during the two-day G-8 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada.

The G-8 countries are Italy, Germany, France, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and Russia.

Following is the White House fact sheet:

(begin fact sheet)

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Kananaskis, Canada)
June 26, 2002

FACT SHEET

Cooperative G-8 Action on Transport Security

"More and more, civilized nations find ourselves on the same side -- united by common dangers of terrorist violence and chaos."
President George W. Bush
June 1, 2002

Presidential Action

Today, President Bush secured agreement on a U.S.-driven plan for G-8 Action on transport security.

-- The G-8 committed to accelerated action on pre-screening people and cargo, increasing security on ships, planes and trucks, and enhancing security in airports and seaports.

-- The G-8 initiative will enhance transport security through better intelligence, coordinated national efforts, and international cooperation against terrorist threats.

-- This initiative complements the smart border programs President Bush has launched with Mexico and Canada and advances a vision of security that pushes the perimeter beyond the physical border.

The Challenge: The global transport infrastructure -- ships, planes, ports, roads, etc. -- is the lifeblood of international commerce. The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, illustrated how critical the international transport system is to our economic and national security. A key challenge arising from those attacks is to promote the efficient and reliable movement of people and goods across borders, while preventing the tools of transport from becoming tools of terrorism. The challenge is critical: 48 million shipping containers are exported and imported annually, tens of thousands of ships are engaged in trade daily, and more than 14,000 planes are flying in the global fleet of commercial airlines.

G-8 Plan of Action: G-8 countries account for over 50 percent of the world's trade, approximately two-thirds of the world's passenger aircraft fleet, and 13 of the world's 25 busiest international airports. The U.S. proposed in March that the G-8 cooperate in addressing these challenges by advancing key transport security initiatives within G-8 countries, and in multilateral bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Maritime Organization, and the World Customs Organization.

Today, the G-8 agreed on a transport security action plan that will:

-- Screen people and cargo for security before transit;

-- Increase security on ships, airplanes, and trucks while en route; and

-- Enhance security in airports and seaports. Commitments include:

1. Collection and transmission of advance passenger information, more secure travel and identity documents, biometrics, and reciprocal bilateral access to departure and transit lounges;

2. Identification and pre-screening of high-risk containers;

3. Accelerated implementation by April 2003 of new standards for reinforced cockpit doors and airport security audits;

4. Accelerated installation of automatic identification systems on certain ships, and development of port and ship security plans; and

5. Development of new measures related to the transport of hazardous cargoes in trucks.

At the same time, the plan will facilitate the cost-effective and efficient flow of people, cargo, and conveyances engaged in legitimate activities. G-8 countries have agreed to promote policy coherence and coordination in all relevant international organizations, and to review progress every six months.

Other U.S. Efforts: The United States has been working bilaterally and multilaterally to keep the arteries of commerce clear while strengthening security surrounding the world's transportation infrastructure. We have comprehensive smart border initiatives underway with Mexico and Canada that use modern technology to enhance security and expedite legitimate cross-border travel and commerce. We are also working with the ports in Singapore and Rotterdam to create cargo pre-screening programs. Singapore and Rotterdam are, respectively, the second and sixth largest container ports in the world.

(end fact sheet)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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