For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 2, 2003
Aviation Security Fact Sheet
Presidential Action
Today, President Bush and the other G-8 Leaders endorsed a U.S.-driven plan to counter the threat to civil aviation posed by
shoulder-launched missiles, or Man-Portable Air Defense Systems
(MANPADS).
The Threat: The unsuccessful missile attack on an Israeli
commercial airliner in Mombasa, Kenya, in November 2002 was a stark
reminder of the threat posed by terrorists possessing MANPADS. MANPADS
are widely available on black or gray markets around the world. Even
an unsuccessful attack on a commercial airliner would have a
devastating economic and political impact.
G-8 Response: Today, G-8 Leaders agreed to Cooperative Action to
Enhance Transport Security and Control of MANPADS and will:
-
Adopt strict national controls over inventories and exports of
MANPADS and key components;
- Ban transfers of MANPADS to non-state end-users; Help countries
that wish to dispose of excess MANPADS stocks but lack the means
to do so;
- Exchange information on countries that are not cooperating to
control stockpiles of these weapons;
- Examine development of technical performance or launch control
features that would preclude unauthorized use of newly produced
MANPADS.
Other U.S. Action: The United States is also addressing MANPADS
proliferation with the 33 nations of the Wassenaar Arrangement, which
promotes international transparency and responsibility in the transfer
of conventional arms, as well as bilaterally with key countries of
concern.
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