The Council President of the International Civil Aviation Organization, Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, while visiting Paris to attend a series of COP21 events, met yesterday with France"™s Minister of State for Transport, Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Mr. Alain Vidalies.
He was accompanied on his visit by Ambassador Olivier Caron, Permanent Representative of France to the ICAO Council, and Mr. Luis Fonseca de Almeida, ICAO Director for the European and North Atlantic (EURNAT) Region.
President Aliu took advantage of the occasion to thank France, a major donor and partner in technical aviation assistance projects, for its active and significant support of ICAO"™s ongoing No Country Left Behind campaign. He especially noted France"™s leadership through the globally acclaimed École Nationale de l"™Aviation Civile (ENAC), which was recognized as an ICAO Regional Training Center of Excellence under ICAO"™s TRAINAIR PLUS programme in 2014, and expressed ICAO"™s deep appreciation for the generosity France has extended to the Organization in serving as the Host State for ICAO"™s European and North Atlantic Regional Office.
On the environment front, President Aliu expressed ICAO"™s gratitude for France"™s generous hosting of the significant COP21 events, while acknowledging the overall mobilization of its aeronautical industry toward the sustainable development of aviation through innovative practices and technologies.
"France is a valued member of the ICAO Council, with status as a State of Chief Importance in Air Transport," stressed President Aliu. "Its contributions to civil aviation, even before ICAO was established, helped to pave the way toward the global Convention which now guides air transport development. And it continues to be a key supporter of ICAO on all matters relating to sustainable civil aviation progress."
"I was honoured to welcome President Aliu yesterday and to be updated on the excellent progress which ICAO is now achieving across its global Strategic Objectives for international aviation," Minister Vidalies added. "We continue to support ICAO today through the Council and Air Navigation Commission, amongst many other fora, and will look forward to working closely and cooperatively with its Member States to manage the challenges of coming aviation growth, safely and efficiently."
While still in Paris, President Aliu will meet today with Mr. Frédéric Gagey, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air France, and Mr. Patrick Gandil, France"™s Director General Civil Aviation.
Later this week he will be hosted in Toulouse during a series of meetings and tours with Mr. Marc Houalla, Director of ENAC, Fabrice Brégier, President & CEO Airbus, and Mr. Patrick de Castelbajac, CEO of ATR.
