HEIGHTENED SECURITY FOR PARAGUAY PRESIDENT'S VISIT|巴拉圭總統率團訪台 維安提升至反恐層級

President Horacio Cartes of Paraguay has begun a three-day state visit to Taiwan to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the ROC establishing ties with Paraguay. He arrived at 4 PM on July 11. The Presidential Office said that it has obtained information that anti-pension reform groups will threaten security during the visit, so anti-terroism levels of security will be in place. Rumors also said that a military ceremony scheduled for Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall was being moved to the front of the Presidential Office due to security concerns, but the Presidential Office said that this was baseless speculation. President Horacio Cartes of Paraguay arrived in Taiwan soon after 4 PM on an Emirates Air flight, and was escorted by Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff into a limousine. Cartes is on a three-day state visit to Taiwan to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the ROC and his country. With counter-terrorism security protocols in place, MOFA said in the morning that it will do all it could to aid in the security effort. ==WANG PEI-LING Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson== (With the protesting groups), any scheduled events involving high-level guests or officials will include MOFA as a supporting agency. As for more detailed explanations, the Presidential Office will have to give them. Protesters have shadowed President Tsai Ing-wen in all of her public appearances recently, and the Presidential Office announced on Monday that it has discovered that organized disruptions of security are being planned. It has therefore instituted counter-terrorism level protocols for this state visit. The military ceremony for the meeting betweenthe two leaders has also been moved from Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall to the front of the Presidential Office. Some said this was due to the protests, but the Presidential Office denied it. ==LIN HO-MING Presidential Office Spokesperson== Past presidents have, due to different considerations, held such ceremonies at the Presidential Office plaza and Liberty square. To say that the change was due to security concerns is baseless speculation. Lin said that the choice of venue was due to convenience and to provide more viable backup plans in case of rain. President Tsai and Vice President Chen Chien-jen will accompany Cartes's delegation to southern Taiwan to tour major infrastructure developments and Taiwan's high-tech sector. TRANSLATED BY：JOHN CHEN 為慶祝台灣和巴拉圭建交六十週年，巴拉圭總統卡提斯率團訪台三天，他在今天下午四點多抵台，由於總統府表示，已經掌握到反年改團體，會在卡提斯訪台期間，發動衝擊維安的行動，因此要將維安，提升到反恐層級。而今天也傳出，明天原定要在中正紀念堂舉行的軍禮儀式，要改至總統府前廣場，是因為維安考量，但總統府回應，這是過度解讀。 巴拉圭總統卡提斯搭乘阿聯酋航空EK366班機，在下午四點多抵台，隨後在外交部人員的接待下，搭上禮車，離開前還對媒體微笑揮，他這次來參加台巴建交六十週年慶祝活動，預計訪問三天，針對這次維安已經提升到反恐層級，外交部上午只表示會盡力配合。 ==外交部發言人 王珮玲== （抗議的團體還滿多的) 只要是涉及層峰 或者是府方高層的行程 外交部都是居於後勤的角色 說明的話 希望由府方來處理 近日在總統蔡英文的公開行程上，抗議團體如影隨行，總統府在週一更宣布，掌握有組織力量，正在預謀發動各種衝擊維安的行動，因此把這次卡斯提總統到訪的維安規格，提升到反恐層級。而台巴建交六十年慶祝活動，兩國元首會晤，少不了軍禮儀式，不過傳出儀式將從中正紀念堂，移到總統府前廣場舉行，是否與反年改抗議有關？但總統府否認這樣的說法。 ==總統府發言人 林鶴明== 歷屆的總統 也都曾經因為 不同考量需求 分別在總統府前廣場 跟自由廣場分別舉行過 軍禮的儀式 所以如果是從維安考量的這個 調整場地的說法 是過度的解讀 總統府發言人林鶴明解釋，會在府前廣場舉行軍禮儀式，是以雨備和行程安排的便利性為考量。至於卡提斯總統率團來台，蔡總統和陳副總統預計將陪同參訪南部，了解台灣重大建設與高科技產業。 記者 桃園 台北 綜合報導