Security tops Pacific dialogue

Security tops Pacific dialogue

Agence France-Presse,
Wellington

Counter-terrorism and trans-national crime will top the agenda at
this week's Southwest Pacific Dialogue meeting in Adelaide --
Australia -- New Zealand Foreign Minister Phil Goff said on
Thursday.

The third annual dialog will bring together senior ministers
from New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the
Philippines and East Timor.

"Regional security will be the main focus of discussions. As
we saw with this year's attack on the Australian Embassy in
Jakarta, and the 2002 Bali bombings, terrorism is as much an
issue in this part of the world as anywhere," Goff said.

"The meeting offers a chance to collectively consider the
regional terrorism situation, and to assess regional cooperation
on counter-terrorism measures, maritime security and capacity-
building initiatives.

"People smuggling, illegal fishing and piracy are all issues
that threaten regional growth and stability, and are likely to be
discussed in detail.

The Southwest Pacific dialogue process was set up at
Indonesia's initiative in 2002 to discuss the major political,
security, economic, social and cultural issues of the region.

The first dialogue was held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, in 2002,
and the second was hosted by New Zealand last year on the
sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.