On 29 November 2013 the last meeting of 200th Session of ICAO Council was held in Montreal. It was the last meeting of the Council under the Chairmanship of President Roberto Kobeh González, who held the office continuously since January 1, 2006. The new President of the ICAO Council under Council Members’ decision will be Dr. Benard Olumuyiwa Aliu of Nigeria. After the meeting of the Council the Farewell reception took place. Dr. Małgorzata Polkowska and other Permanent Representatives of the Council congratulated and thanked Mr. Roberto Kobeh González for his long and successful work for the Organization and development of international civil aviation.
During the Council meeting, the new President of the Air Navigation Commission (ANC) was appointed by acclamation. The new President of the Commission - Mr. Farid Zizi from France will begin one-year term from 1 January 2014. In the framework of the Council, Delegation of Japan made a statement on the freedom of flying over the high seas and in air defense identification zones (ADIZ). The Secretary General of ICAO - Mr. Raymond Benjamin said clarified some legal issues presented by the Delegation of Russia, regarding an UN-ICAO Management Services Agreement which is managed as the project of Technical Co-operation Bureau (TCB).
Dr. Malgorzata Polkowska presented the position of the Polish Delegation related to the technical assistance offered by ICAO and third parties. Polish Delegation requested the Secretariat of ICAO to prepare statistics showing the number of projects which, despite full scope of references and part performance have not been completed. According to the request the statistics shall include the reasons why the project has not been completed as well as any costs incurred as a result. Polish delegation considers this matter to be very important and will be raised during the next Council sittings.
The next 201st Session of the ICAO Council will be held next year and will be divided into two phases. Committee phase will take place from 13 to 31 January 2014 and the council phase from 24 February to 14 March 2014.