Australia commends the Member States of the Gulf Cooperation Council for their leadership of this paper.
Australia is deeply concerned by Iran's indiscriminate attacks against countries across the Middle East, including strikes on airports, aviation infrastructure, and civilian air corridors.
These actions have threatened lives and caused major disruption to global civil aviation.
The Council has a responsibility to act urgently and decisively in response to Iran's actions, which continue to threaten civil aviation safety and disrupt global air transport.
We thank the President of the Council for bringing this matter to the Council today.
The Council should urgently consider the serious matters raised by the sponsors of this paper under the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
Like other members of the ICAO Council, Australia knows all too well the tragic loss that we risk if we do not protect the safety and security of civil aviation in times of conflict.
In line with the paper, Australia condemns Iran's dangerous attacks in the Middle East that continue to threaten the safety and security of civil aviation.
Iran's actions have threatened lives and caused millions to be affected by disruption to global civil aviation.
Australia supports the adoption by the Council of the draft decision as outlined in Section 4 of the Paper.
Australia also urges the ICAO Secretary-General to provide timely updates to the Council on the situation in the Middle East and actions being taken to reduce the risk to civil aviation.
And Australia again calls on Iran and its proxies to cease their dangerous and destabilising attacks, which put civilians and civilian infrastructure at serious risk.
