Fiji to hold regional summit with security concerns

Fiji government officials promised Monday a secure Pacific Islands Forum held this week with 16 regional leaders trying to cope with the immediate issues and a road map for regionalism.

Fiji's Foreign Affairs Minister Kaliopate Tavola said Fiji Government have beefed up security measures, especially for Helen Clark, New Zealand Prime Minister, who has been gravely concerned about the situation and tipped of not attending the meeting following renewed threats from the Fiji military to the Government.

Tavola played down political and security concerns, saying the political situation stays calm and there is no threat to the safety of visiting Pacific delegations.

In the meantime Tavola admitted security is the most costly Forum operation as far as logistics is concerned.

"About 1.7 million Fiji dollars (800,000 U.S. dollars), nearly one-third of the Forum spending were for the security measures," the Foreign Minister told Xinhua.

Fiji's assistant commissioner operations Samuela Matakiba said all the leaders will receive adequate security during the meeting with each being provided with a personnel protection officer, a liaison officer and six other protection officers.

Matakiba said Australian Prime Minister John Howard will be receiving quite different security measures, and he was happy about the arrangement.

Clark and Howard will arrive late Monday, reportedly bringing their own security teams.

A spokeswoman for New Zealand Prime Minister did not want to go into the security detail but said more security staff were arranged for Clark's Nadi tour.

Source: Xinhua