NEW ZEALAND REPRESENTATION AT ARF SECURITY POLICY

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000881 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12356: N/A TAGS: PREL NZ ARF SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND REPRESENTATION AT ARF SECURITY POLICY CONFERENCE IN BEIJING REF: STATE 224126 (SBU) In response to reftel: While the New Zealand government is very supportive of the Chinese effort to host the first ARF Security Policy Conference (ASPC),it still is trying to determine who will represent New Zealand at the November 4-6 event in Beijing. The government is disappointed with the invitation's tardiness, making it more difficult to identify its representative, according to Bronwyn Evans-Kent of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Security Policy Division. New Zealand probably will send a representative from its embassy in Beijing and, possibly, from the ministry. The ministry official would be at the deputy director (deputy assistant secretary- equivalent) level. Ms. Evans-Kent would be interested in learning about U.S. participation. Meanwhile, she will keep post updated on her government's plans. BURNETT