The APEC Counter-Terrorism Task Force (CTTF) will focus its work on ensuring aviation security next year, aiming to minimize terrorism risks, according to a press release issued here on Thursday by the task force.

The 2007 CTTF work program will include new initiatives such as the Aviation Security Quality Controls to mitigate the terrorist threat to the international civil aviation network.

The CTTF will also establish an aviation security point of contact network to improve communications and identify gaps in aviation security networks to cope with potential urgent aviation security threats. It has agreed to form a business resumption point of contact network with an aim to ensure rapid communication in the case of terrorist attack with an impact on border operation.

To consolidate the network, the CTTF has developed with the APEC Task Force for Emergency Preparedness an APEC Emergency and Rapid Responses Points of Contact Network that can be called into immediate action to response a terrorist attack or other disasters such as a disease pandemic.

In addition, APEC is developing initiatives to deal with the terrorist threat in such areas as protecting the food supply and preventing the misuse of financial infrastructure by terrorists, said newly-appointed Chair of the APEC CTTF Park Sang-ki.

The CTTF was established at the end of 2002 to identify and assess counter-terrorism needs, coordinate capacity building and technical assistance programs and facilitate cooperation among 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) on anti-terrorism issues.