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PUNTA, Cana, Dominican Republic (June 30, 2002 - PINA Nius Online)---Fiji Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase -- in under three weeks -- will take on his biggest international role yet: the presidency at the 78-nation African, Caribbean, Pacific (ACP) Summit.

The current ACP president, Dominican Republic President Rafael Hipolito Mejia, will hand over the presidency to Mr. Qarase when Fiji hosts this group of nations' 3rd summit, July 16-19.

Said the head of the Fiji Mission to the European Union (EU), Ambassador Isikeli Mataitoga, as he looked ahead to the summit being held at the Sheraton Fiji Resort, Denarau Island, Nadi: "Fiji and the PM will definitely have a much bigger international profile."

This profile will come not only when Mr. Qarase chairs the summit, officials attending ACP and ACP-EU ministerial meetings in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, said.

It will also come when he speaks on behalf of the ACP internationally as the group becomes a growing...

VANUATU

PORT VILA, Vanuatu (June 30, 2002 - PINA Nius Online)---Regional journalists have arrived in Port Vila as part of a project designed to strengthen coverage of the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting (FEMM) and economic issues in general.

It is a result of cooperation between the AusAID Pacific Media Initiative, the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA), Pres Klab blong Vanuatu and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.

They have combined to organize and run a workshop in conjunction with this week's FEMM meeting in Port Vila and help coverage of the meeting.

Attending are 10 journalists from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu.

As well as attending workshop sessions and briefings, they will cover the FEMM for newspapers, radio and TV stations, and news services around the region.

PINA Administrator Nina Ratulele said the program is part of a continuing series of workshops in a partnership...

APIA, Samoa (July 1, 2002 – Radio New Zealand International)---Increased crime and violence at Samoa’s busiest trading area, Fugalei Market, has led to police setting up a permanent office there with officers on duty 24 hours a day.

The minister in charge of the Accident Compensation Board, which runs the market, says the market has become a center for marijuana dealing, there are frequent outbreaks of violence and guns have been fired in the area.

Arrests of marijuana sellers are said to be a daily occurrence, and the area is also known as a contact point for prostitution.

Police Commissioner Asi Blakelock says police have been keen to establish a 24 hour presence there for some time.

For additional reports from Radio New Zealand International, go to PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT News/Information Links: Radio/TV News/Radio New Zealand International.

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (June 30, 2002 – Radio Australia)---The two-week-long PNG national election, which was to have ended Saturday, is proceeding slowly, with voting and ballot counting delays of up to a week expected in parts of the country.

Meantime, Radio Australia correspondent Dulciana Somare reports that government officials in the Highlands have declared Chimbu province a "fighting zone" allowing police to use their own discretion to curb election-related lawlessness.

"Declared winners, intending candidates, electoral officials and voters are disputing many aspects of these elections.

"While seven candidates have been declared winners in three provinces in PNG -- including Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta and former Prime Minister Bill Skate -- the rest of the country awaits a much-needed injection of funds to carry out and finalize the electoral processes.

"In Chimbu province, where a fighting zone has been declared, police have the...