THE Director of Civil Aviation yesterday said, “an ongoing process to improve security was taking place at the island’s airports.”
Leonidas Leonidou was responding to local press reports that an EU security audit taking place at Paphos airport this week had highlighted serious security concerns.
Phileleftheros on Thursday reported that screening staff were only detecting 30 per cent of outlawed items hidden in luggage, when EU guidelines state that over 90 per cent must be found.
According to the Director, the audit’s results will be relayed to him by Monday at the latest.
“The problem has been well documented and we have, for the past year, been trying to increase the number of police screening personnel so we have an adequate number, who are professionally trained.”
He added that once this happens, “I believe that most problems caused by the human factor will be sorted out.”
A proposal on the issue will go before the Council of Ministers next week.
Leonidou stated that equipment had been increased and modernised but did admit that infrastructure needs improvement. “We know this and have been actively moving on this continuous problem.”
Regarding the EU audit, he said that his Department would, “seriously study the results. Our job is to be fully compliant with the requirements of the EU.”
When asked how safe the island’s airports were, Leonidou stated that, “security is never perfect at any airport around the world and that the role of an audit is to always find a lapse. We know the deficiencies that exist on the island and are working actively to rectify them.”
He said that the only way to move forward is to turn the Department of Civil Aviation into an autonomous entity, “not restricted by the government in terms of flexibility and hiring people as needed. Ongoing work to this end is taking place.”
Presently, the Department is part of the Ministry of Communication and Works and, “is part of the public sector machinery,” according to Leonidou.
“I’m confident that if the political resolution shown so far continues, we shall become autonomous in around six months.”
