Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Clinton may be coming to Pacific Islands Forum

Updated at 4:00 pm on 2 August 2012

The Cook Islands government has confirmed a United States security team has conducted an assessment amid speculation US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton could attend the Pacific Islands Forum in August.

The Cook Islands prime minister's office will not confirm that Mrs Clinton will make an appearance, but says an advance team is scoping out Rarotonga for security threats.

A spokesperson says the office cannot confirm the visit because the US embassy is yet to confirm it.

Prime minister Henry Puna flew to New Zealand last week to discuss the possible visit with New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister, Murray McCully.

There is a suggestion Mrs Clinton may attend the post-forum dialogue as a sign of growing US interest in the Pacific.

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