TSUNAMI ASSISTANCE - FRENCH WILL ASSIGN A LIAISON

UNCLAS PARIS 000133 SIPDIS STATE FOR PM/ISO AND PM/PMAT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MOPS MARR FR SUBJECT: TSUNAMI ASSISTANCE - FRENCH WILL ASSIGN A LIAISON OFFICER REF: STATE 2705 We conveyed reftel request for an LNO for tsunami relief January 6 to Bertrand Besancenot, the Defense Minister's Diplomatic Advisor. The Defense Attache's office made a similar request to its contacts at the MOD's Planning and Operations center. We have been advised that the French are moving quickly to select a candidate, who may be LCL Chadtal, identified in reftel as having received Multinational Planning Augmentation Team training. An as-yet-unidentified senior French officer will contact PACOM to coordinate the assignment. Leach