U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano wants the United Nations to establish global security standards for commercial aviation.

 

Napolitano said she expects a meeting of the United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organization later this month in Montreal will produce a "very good" ruling with respect to global aviation standards, said a UPI report. Napolitano said international flights are the "lifeblood" of global commerce and their security must be foremost. "If it goes down or people lose confidence in it, that's a huge impact on economies around the world," Napolitano said.

 

Napolitano said a thwarted "underwear bomber" attack on a commercial airliner over Detroit last year makes it crucial standardized security measures are in place, the report said. Among other things, the expected U.N. resolution would address how countries share intelligence, and would provide for regular audits on individual airports' security practices.