MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Fortress” Santiago next November.

If you're thinking of travelling to Santiago next November, particularly the third week, give it a second thought.

During that week Santiago which will be hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum summit and twenty leaders, some of them from the most powerful (and demanding in security terms) countries in the world.

The summit will extend from November 14 to 21 and will see the presence among others of the presidents of United States, Russia, China, Mexico, Indonesia and Prime Ministers from Japan, Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand. This has become the greatest security challenge ever for Chilean forces which will turn Santiago into a "fortress".

According to Chilean press reports the CIA and FBI are already working in Santiago on security arrangements in combination with Chilean elite and intelligence forces.

A flotilla of three US Navy units, including an aircraft carrier, off Valparaiso port, will be the residence of US President George Bush commuting daily by helicopter to Carabineros headquarters in downtown Santiago.

"They are very strict and for this reason CIA staff is already in Santiago supervising the situation; four months before the actual summit the presidential Secret Service will be arriving to familiarize with the theatre of action", said a Chilean police source.

During the APEC summit in Mexico in 2002, held in Baja California, President Bush spent three nights in an aircraft carrier and was transported daily by helicopter to the conference hall.

Apparently if President Bush were to land in Santiago's airport, the air terminal and the main avenues (plus two blocks on each side) leading to wherever the summit takes place must be completely cleared.

Russia, China and Japan have also petitioned strong security measures regarding transportation of leaders, plus resting places completely risk-tight the 24 hours and away from any protestors.

Another challenge for Chilean organizers is the number of special aircrafts scheduled to arrive at Santiago airport with staff, equipment, armoured vehicles and country leaders.

Russia and the US (including Air Force One Boeing 747) will be coming with three aircrafts; Mexico, Japan, China two each, while the rest of the twenty countries with one per head of government.

"From the moment APEC leaders arrive in Chile and until they leave, nothing, absolutely nothing can go wrong" was the instruction given by Chilean president Ricardo Lagos to Chilean security forces.

APEC which was started in 1989 promotes trade and cooperation in the Pacific basin and currently has 21 country members representing 2,5 billion population, a GDP of 19 trillion US dollars and 47% of all world trade. It is also the most dynamic economic area of the world managing 70% of world growth in the last ten years.

APEC is made up of US, China, Japan, Russia, Mexico, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, Peru, Indonesia, Brunei, Canada, South Korea, Philippines, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.