The UN Security Council on Thursday called on all countries to honor their responsibility «to protect the security of citizens and nationals of all nations against terrorist attacks on air services operating within their territory.»

A new resolution, unanimously adopted by the 15-nation UN body, expressed grave concern over terrorist attacks against civil aviation and strongly condemned such attacks.

The Security Council expressed concern that «terrorist groups continue to view civil aviation as an attractive target, with the aim of causing substantial loss of life, economic damage and disruption to connectivity between States,» the resolution said.

«The risk of terrorist attacks against civil aviation may affect all regions and member states,» it said.

At least 34 people were killed in explosions at a Brussels airport and on a city subway train in March.

The resolution reaffirms that «terrorist attack against civil aviation, like any act of international terrorism, constitute a threat to international peace and security,» and «any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivations, whenever, wherever, and by whomsoever committed.»

«The global nature of aviation means that States are depending on the effectiveness of each other’s aviation security systems for the protection of their citizens and nationals and relevant aspect of their national security,» the resolution said.

The Security Council called on all states to ensure that effective, risk-based measures are in place at the airports within their jurisdiction, including through enhancing screening, security checks, the resolution said.

Meanwhile, the Security Council also recognized the vital importance of the global aviation system to economic development and prosperity, and of all states strengthening aviation security measures to secure a stable and peaceful global environment, said the resolution.

The resolution also called on all states to work within the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to «ensure that its international security standards are reviewed and adapted to strengthen and promote the effective application of ICAO standards and (relevant) recommended practices,» the resolution said.

The resolution was adopted at the open meeting of the Security Council on the threat to civil aviation, which heard a briefing by Liu Fang, secretary general of ICAO.

ICAO has been contributing to the implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy since 2006, as well as the relevant Security Council resolutions, Liu said.

«ICAO is one of the 38 entities of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) which is mandated to strengthen the coordination and coherence of counter-terrorism efforts in the United Nations system,» she said.

«The primary objective of aviation security assistance is to support member states in resolving significant security concerns identified through the ICAO Aviation Security Audit Programme, and to assist them in implementing security standards and the ICAO Traveller Identification Programme Strategy,» she said.

ICAO was set up in 1944 upon the signing of the Convention on International Civil Aviation in the U.S. city of Chicago.

The agency work with 191 member states and industrial partners to adopt international civil aviation Standards and Recommended Practices and policies in support of a safe, efficient, secure, economically sustainable and environmentally responsible aviation sector, she added.