Regional security forum to be held in Taipei Today

A three-day international seminar on Asia-Pacific regional security is to take place in Taipei today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced yesterday.

In a press release, the ministry said that both local and foreign experts are scheduled to take part in the seminar at Civil Service Development Institute to discuss topics ranging from anti-terrorism and the North Korean nuclear crisis to ballistic missile defense.

According to the ministry statement, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) will give the keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the conference.

Retired US Admiral Lyle Bien is slated to give a luncheon talk hosted by the Ministry of National Defense as part of today activities.

Other foreign dignitaries slated to take part in the seminar include former South Korean prime minister Kang Young-hong, South Korea's former UN ambassador Park Keun and Massimo Mauro from the General Secretariat of the Council of the EU.

Carolina Hernandez of Philippines will speak on counter-terrorism measures adopted by ASEAN.

Local officials slated to take part in the conference include National Security Council Secretary-General Kang Ning-hsian (康寧祥), Secretary-General of the Office of the President Chiou I-jen (邱義仁), Mainland Affairs Council Chairwoman Tsai Yin-wen (蔡英文), Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien (簡又新) and Vice Minister of National Defense Lin Chong-pin (林中斌).

The Taiwan International Medical Alliance and the Italy-based International School on Disarmament and Research on Conflict are jointly sponsoring the seminar.