The International Air Transport Association (IATA) are reminding governments of all countries about the importance of protecting civil aviation, including airport and air navigation infrastructure, during times of conflict. Its director-general, Willie Walsh said as an industry that requires the effective implementation of global standards to operate, aviation upholds global standards and the international rules-based order on which they rely. 'Civil aviation fulfils a purpose that transcends politics to create and preserve friendship and understanding among the nations and peoples of the world,' he said in a statement today. He added that it is the unquestionable obligation of governments under international law such as Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to protect the freedom of movement domestically and interntionally and pointed out Article 48 of the Fourth Geneva Convention holds that combatants in conflict must not target civilian objects. Walsh said that the Chicago Convention explicitly obliged states to protect civil aircraft and passengers in flight, refrain from the use of force against civil aircraft, and by corollary coordinate and communicate any activities potentially hazardous to civil aviation. 'Do no harm to civilian aircraft, airports or air navigation services. This is non-negotiable and must be respected even at the height of hostility. 'In the meantime, combatants must know and abide by the rules of conflict and humanitarian assistance as laid out in international law,' he added. Source: BERNAMA News Agency