SYDNEY, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Papua New Guinea has geared up its land, sea and air security support services for hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November, defense authorities said on Friday.
"It is a tremendous undertaking and a giant lead for us and therefore at this stage with a number of months to go, it is important that we (PNG Defense Force) understand our capabilities right now and test them accordingly," PNG Defence Force chief of force preparations Colonel Siale Diro told local media.
The deployment of a dedicated special forces is already being tested to help police and other agencies provide safety and security for the international event, the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier newspaper quoted Diro as saying.
The main force element consists of infantry and other supporting elements "that can bring our military capability to the fore when and where it is required", he said.
Defense forces also rolled out a major exercise earlier this week covering the various locations planned for APEC events in the capital Port Moresby as part a comprehensive security package, the newspaper quoted Police Commissioner Gari Baki as saying on Friday.
The exercise will help ensure that defense and security elements involved in the meeting are up to the mark, said Baki.