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Resort prepares for meeting of G8 foreign ministers

Officials expect it to be peaceful but intense security will be evident Whistler will host eight of the world’s top foreign ministers next week as they meet in advance of the G8 Summit in Alberta to discuss counter-terrorism and other issues.

Officials expect it to be peaceful but intense security will be evident

Whistler will host eight of the world’s top foreign ministers next week as they meet in advance of the G8 Summit in Alberta to discuss counter-terrorism and other issues.

The meeting, to be held June 12 and 13 at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, is expected to draw protesters, but at this point it is expected to be peaceful.

There will be security checks to enter the hotel, which will be considered a secure environment.

But according to Chateau spokeswoman Sonja Hwang: "We expect everything to be just fine.

"We haven’t heard of anything yet that would be a concern and we have full trust in the RCMP."

Mayor Hugh O’Reilly is hoping that the peaceful experience of recent meetings, such as the gathering of G8 environment ministers in Alberta, is repeated here.

"The perfect scenario would be that I never knew it was here and it left," he said.

"If there is no disturbance and it runs smoothly then that is perfect, that is exactly what we hope happens.

"From what I have been hearing we are OK, but that is something (security officials) keep a very close tab on and I haven’t been given any indication that there is a heightened level at this point."

Scores of police officers from the Lower Mainland are expected early next week to join Whistler’s RCMP officers to ensure the resort stays problem free.

The Chateau will be the focus for security and barricades will be used to funnel pedestrian traffic in and around the hotel.

Shops and services in the area will be open for business, although access may be monitored.

Kaoru Nakahama of Senka Florist had thought about closing her outlet on the ground floor of the Chateau.

"We thought it might be easier to escape and not be involved," she said from her main shop in Nesters Square.

"But possibly there may be higher expectations because the hotel is full."

There are other guests staying at the hotel, which is almost fully booked, said Nakahama. So they might be busier than they would normally be at this time of the year.

According to RCMP spokesman Sgt. Grant Learned the security will be focused on the Upper Village.

"There may be some restrictions on how you are going to gain access in and around those areas because we have to balance our security obligations with the ability of other people to carry out their business," he said.

"One of the objectives is to absolutely minimize any disruptions to the people who live there, who work there or are visiting there.

"The Chateau is the primary venue and as such the security focus will be deployed in and around there to ensure that our security obligations are going to be met with respect to the safety of the internationally protected people who are going to be there.

"The Lower Village will not be subject to anything but the regular patrols and officers who are usually in that area."

According to Internet sites only one group, the Lower Mainland Social Justice Coalition, is organizing a bus trip to protest in Whistler. The group plans to demonstrate against the "G8 disregard for human rights and the environment."

Harreson Sito of the Buddhist Alliance for Social Engagement in Vancouver will also be protesting. He hopes to offer a calm alternative to angry protesters and ministers alike.

Greenpeace will be sending at least two high profile European campaigners to the meeting to draw attention to two items being discussed: the disposition of plutonium and the continued import of illegally harvested wood products.

Greenpeace spokeswoman Natalie Southworth explained that wood is being illegally harvested from environmentally fragile areas such as the Amazon Rainforest and sold.

"There are examples that we are going to be providing that show how some countries, and Canada is actually one we are looking at, are allowing wood from regions that the payment from which is directly helping to fund arms, terrorism, you name it.

"It is the profiteering from the wood products that are being illegally harvested. There is mass deforestation that is taking place. There is no view to sustainability in regions like the Amazon rainforest, which is one of the most precious regions in the world."

Greenpeace will also be urging the foreign ministers to reject the US plan for plutonium disposition.

"Our position is that there cannot be any real global security unless there is environmental security," said Southworth.

"We are simply saying don’t follow the US proposal. This is not good for the environment and not good for security."

"First of all it doesn’t destabilize (the plutonium) which is a huge factor and it keeps it in circulation for a while… and there is a real fear there, and potential, that it could end up in the wrong hands."

While these protest are likely to be peaceful RCMP Sgt. Learned said security forces must be vigilant.

"It is always easier to have people standing by and prepared and not to have to use them than it is to need them and not have them," he said.

At this point no protest groups have contacted the RCMP to pre-arrange marches or demonstrations.

But, said Learned, experience has shown that groups, often those not content to protest peacefully, can mobilize very quickly so security forces must be ready.

"They can get mobilized very quickly through a closed network and so we may not have any hard information on them," he said.

"We have to be very respectful of that ability and to ensure that we do not deplete our resources in terms of our security plan at the 11 th hour."