By Mevlut Ozkan
ISTANBUL (AA) —South Africa's re-election to the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Governing Council ensures that African priorities are "firmly" reflected in global discussions, the country's Transport Minister Barbara Creecy said on Sunday.
“The re-election also reaffirms South Africa's instrumental role in advancing ICAO's agenda on safety, security, sustainability, and environmental matters, while ensuring that the African continent's priorities remain firmly on the global stage,” Creecy said in a statement issued by his ministry.
The vote was held on Saturday at the 42nd ICAO General Assembly in Montreal, Canada, where South Africa was re-elected to Part II of the Governing Council, a category giving member states higher representation in global civil aviation forums.
Creecy said the re-election reaffirms South Africa’s mandate held since 2003 and reflects member states’ confidence in the country’s ongoing contribution to shaping the global aviation agenda.
The two other African states elected to Part II of the ICAO Governing Council were Egypt and Nigeria, while elections for Part III, which ensures equitable geographic representation for the continent, are scheduled for Sept. 30, according to the ICAO.