PM's meeting with US admiral secret

Admiral William Fallon

Details of a private meeting between the Prime Minister and one of the United States' top military chiefs are being kept under wraps.

Admiral William Fallon, head of the US Pacific Command, is due to meet Helen Clark and Defence Minister Phil Goff among a series of meetings in New Zealand this week after visiting Antarctica.

A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister said Helen Clark would have a "private meeting" with Admiral Fallon.

She would not say what day the meeting would be or what would be discussed.

Mr Goff would meet Admiral Fallon tomorrow and discuss defence and Pacific security issues, a spokesman said. Unrest in Fiji is likely to be one of the issues.

Admiral Fallon, who reports directly to US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and his travelling party were also due to meet senior New Zealand Defence Force staff for "courtesy meetings".

Among his entourage is General Paul Hester, head of the air forces in the US Pacific Command region.

Last night there was confusion over whether Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters would meet Admiral Fallon.

A spokesman for Mr Peters initially said no meeting was scheduled, then said he was not sure.

The Herald was unable to contact Mr Peters directly.

One of Mr Peters' goals as Foreign Minister is to strengthen New Zealand's relationship with the US.

As defence matters play a central role in that relationship a meeting with Admiral Fallon would be considered advantageous.

Dr Paul Buchanan, senior lecturer in political studies at Auckland University, said Admiral Fallon's visit was significant because it showed a thawing of the defence relationship between New Zealand and the US.

"This yet again shows that regardless of the diplomatic posturing over New Zealand's anti-nuclear stance, we continue to be visited and have a close working relationship with the US defence department."

US Embassy spokeswoman Janine Burns told the Herald that Admiral Fallon and his party had flown into Christchurch before travelling to Antarctica to see the US Antarctic Programme in action.

He primarily wanted to get acquainted with US logistical support for the programme.

His visit comes only a week after influential Republican Senator John McCain led a delegation of US politicians to Antarctica and New Zealand.

US Pacific Command spokesman Captain Jeff Alderson said Admiral Fallon was making his first visit to New Zealand and Antarctica.

"It is an opportunity for him to see the [US] project in Antarctica and while he's going through [New Zealand], it's a chance to stop and see people," Captain Alderson said.

The whole trip would last about a week and the trip to Antarctica was an overnight visit. Captain Alderson could not give any more detail about the trip for security reasons.

Admiral Fallon commands a fifth of all active US military, in an area comprising half of the Earth's surface.

The US Pacific Command's mission is "promoting security and peaceful development in the Asia-Pacific region by deterring aggression, advancing regional security co-operation, responding to crises, and fighting to win".

The admiral's party flew into Christchurch in US Air Force Gulfstream and Boeing 737 aircraft which remained on the tarmac at Christchurch Airport yesterday.

 

Admiral William Fallon

* Commander of the United States Pacific Command, which controls US military forces and oversees operations in an area covering half the globe.
* Has 300,000 troops under his command.
* Vietnam veteran and served as US Air Force pilot for 24 years.