Text: U.S. Committed to Helping Improve Africa's Air Safety

DOT News Release

The Bush administration is committed to helping the nations of Africa continue to improve the safety of their aviation systems, U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta said today, as well as to seeking liberalized, Open-Skies aviation agreements with African countries.

In remarks today to the "Open Skies for Africa Aviation Conference" in Washington, D.C., Secretary Mineta said the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will press forward with the Safe Skies for Africa initiative, which was launched in 1998 to help African nations meet international air safety standards, improve airport security and improve regional air navigation services.

"Safe, secure and dependable air transportation is vital to the economic development and well-being of the countries of Africa," Secretary Mineta said. "Developing a safe and secure aviation infrastructure is essential if African countries want to develop strong economic and trade relationships with the United States and other nations and regions."

Secretary Mineta pointed to the U.S. government's successful work with Nigeria as an example of the benefits of the Safe Skies program. DOT's Federal Aviation Administration provided technical assistance to Nigeria in improving its aviation security, leading to the lifting in 1999 of a six-year ban on air services between Nigeria and the United States. Direct flights between the two countries resumed this February.

Secretary Mineta said that, in addition to Safe Skies, the United States is also seeking to liberalize bilateral aviation agreements with African countries. Of the 53 U.S. Open-Skies bilateral agreements worldwide, 10 are with African countries - Tanzania, Namibia, Burkina Faso, Ghana, the Gambia, Nigeria, Morocco, Rwanda, Benin and Senegal. Open-Skies agreements allow unrestricted service by the airlines of each side to, from and beyond the other's territory, without restrictions on where carriers fly, the number of flights they operate, or the prices they charge.

Open Skies not only provide benefits for airlines, passengers and shippers, but for the entire economies of the nations embracing liberalization, he said.

This October's ministerial-level U.S.-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum in Washington also will involve a discussion of further measures to stimulate trade, develop prosperity and advance democracy in Africa, the Secretary said.