East Timor to attend ACP Summit in Fiji

East Timor to attend ACP Summit in Fiji

Agence France-Presse, Suva

The world's newest nation, East Timor, will participate in next
week's African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) summit here with a
delegation led by its former freedom fighter president, Xanana
Gusmao, confirmed to attend, organizers said.

South African's President Thabo Mbeki and another 500
delegates have also been confirmed as participants by the ACP
Summit secretariat.

Preparations are reportedly "coming along fine" with
fortnightly meetings of the organizing committee. The ACP Summit
secretariat is expecting 1,000 delegates, and apart from having
to secure more furniture, the Sheraton Resort host is reportedly
on track.

Twenty companies have confirmed participation for a trade show
to provide delegates from the African and Caribbean regions
exposure to all that is available from the Pacific region in
terms of trade.

Live television coverage will allow Fiji islanders a glimpse
of the ACP Summit during the week. Media facilitation is
reportedly on-going with minimal hiccups.

Human rights activists, meanwhile, are vowing not to be
stopped by a refusal by authorities to grant permits for
protests.

The activists will organize a week-long protest during the
summit despite the reported rejection by the government arm of
the Western Division, Nadi's district officer.

The Non-Government Organization (NGO) Coalition on Human
Rights has secured support from members of the public -- both
business houses and residents, including the Nadi International
Airport and the hotels of the ACP delegates.

Another potential blow to the upcoming summit is the possible
industrial dispute between the Fiji Aviation Workers Association
and the government, which is predicted to disrupt the summit
program.

The summit proper begins from July 18, but the organization's
council of ministers and other such preliminary discussions will
be held from July 16.