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11. 01. 10. - 16:00

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11. 01. 10. - 16:00

WKO rejects body scanner plans

By Thomas Hochwarter

A leading Economy Chamber official has dismissed suggestions body scanners should be used at Austrian airports.

Michael Grubmann, head of the Austrian Economy Chamber’s (WKO) Traffic and Infrastructure Issues Department, said today (Mon) he could see "organisation and legal problems" the scanners were introduced.

"Additional security measures should bring a higher level of security. It is currently unclear with these devices whether this would be the case," he said.

EU leaders are debating whether body scanners should be introduced at European airports, but Grubmann stressed the possibility of health risks associated with the scanners needed to be investigated more closely, adding that plans to force only certain passengers to undergo a body scanner check were "not elaborate".

"Attempts to determine who is a ‘safe’ passenger and who is not will present not only organisation problems - they will also be difficult on a legal level considering [possible] discrimination," the WKO official warned.

The WKO’s Aviation Association meanwhile said there was already a high level of security at Austrian airports.

Christian Domany, the association’s head, said a "coordinated Europe-wide handling" of the issue was "absolutely needed".

Domany, a former head of Vienna International Airport (VIA), also warned the aviation industry must not be burdened with the cost of the introduction of body scanners.

"Terrorist attacks are generally acted out in a protest against western values and not against aviation or traffic companies," he claimed.

Austria’s political parties are meanwhile at odds over the issue.

While Interior Ministry spokesman Rudolf Gollia explained there were "no current plans" to change anything in security checks at Austrian airports, the ÖVP is in favour of the introduction of body scanners.

"Body scanners are absolutely essential. Security at airports needs to have priority," People’s Party (ÖVP) security issues spokesman Günter Kössl said.

Otto Pendl, Social Democrats (SPÖ) security issues spokesman, said experts needed to be consulted over alternatives to the introduction of body scanners before they are introduced.

Harald Vilimsky, general secretary of the right-wing Freedom Party (FPÖ) said body scanners would not mean a higher level of security but only a "huge harassment" for travellers.

Vilimsky also said Austrians would not be part of a "group of potential terrorists".

"Previous incidents have shown that people from certain countries with certain religious backgrounds are posing the danger," he claimed.

Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) General Secretary Stefan Petzner said his party would oppose plans for an introduction of body scanners as such as step would be a "massive intervention in civil rights".

Petzner said the "extremism in some countries" needed to be brought under control first.

"Body scanners are nonsense and a health risk," he added.

Greens MP Peter Pilz said his party would "strongly object" the body scanner plans.

"Austria must not become a surveillance state," he said.

Austrian Times

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