KOREAN ARF DISASTER RELIEF EXERCISE

UNCLAS SEOUL 002304 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/RSP -- KEVIN SHEIVES, PACOM FOR J71 -- STEVE MELLINGER, USAID FOR OFDA -- JEFF HENSEL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAID MARR MOPS ASEAN ARF RP SUBJECT: KOREAN ARF DISASTER RELIEF EXERCISE REF: STATE 122937 ¶1. (SBU) Per reftel instructions, Econoff discussed ROKG participation in the ASEAN Regional Forum Disaster Relief Voluntary Demonstration of Response (VDR) with Mr. Lee, Young-joon of the South Asian and Oceanian Regional Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT). Lee said that MOFAT is currently discussing ROKG participation with the Ministry of National Defense (MND) and is reasonably certain that the ROKG will participate. Lee noted that MOFAT, MND, and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) will represent the ROKG at the upcoming Inter-Sessional Meeting (ISM) on Disaster Relief in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. ¶2. (SBU) Econoff also discussed the VDR with Mr. Arnel G. Talisayon, who is the point of contact for the VDR at the Philippine Embassy in Seoul. Talisayon said that the Philippine Embassy had invited Korea to participate in the VDR, but that he had not yet followed up his faxed invitation. He said he would coordinate more closely with the ROKG in the near future. ¶3. (U) Embassy Seoul POCs regarding the VDR are Econoff Dewey Moore (moorede@state.gove, phone: 822 397 4364) and ESToff James Waller (wallerjm@state.gov, phone: 822 397 4159). STEPHENS