U.S. ENGAGEMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TSUNAMI

UNCLAS KINGSTON 002147 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAR (BENT) DEPARTMENT FOR OES/OA (TIRPAK) SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD AND J7 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC TPHY EAID SENV JM KSCI SUBJECT: U.S. ENGAGEMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TSUNAMI WARNING SYSTEMS REF: STATE 152264 ¶1. On September 13, Poloff spoke with Claudia Barnes, Director, International and Economic Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFAFT),for a response to reftel questions. Barnes said that tsunami preparedness and the purchase of tsunami warning system (TWS) equipment are both of concern to the GOJ, which has not purchased nor received assistance to purchase such equipment. She said that the issue has been discussed by the GOJ's National Council on Ocean and Coastal Zone Management, which is chaired by Senator Delano Franklyn, Minister of State, MFAFT. ¶2. Barnes did not comment on her expectations for the IOC Intergovernmental Coordination Group's efforts, but she did request that Post provide more information on tsunami detection for the benefit of the National Council's discussions. Post will follow up to provide more detailed information to the GOJ on this issue, and will report any substantive developments. TURNER