IOC/ITSU-XVI/3 - International Co-ordination Group for the Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific, Sixteenth Session, Lima, Peru, 23-26 September 1997

The Chairman, Mr. H. Gorziglia opened the Sixteenth Session of the International Co-ordination Group for the Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific at 10.00 on 23 September 1997.

He welcomed the participants and briefly described the objectives of the Session and presented his views on the future development of the system.

Dr. I. Oliounine, Deputy Executive Secretary IOC, speaking on behalf of the IOC Executive Secretary, joined the Chairman in welcoming the participants, extended his thanks to the local organizers for hosting the Meeting and providing the necessary facilities and wished the Session every success. He expressed the strong belief that the Session will supply guidance to the ITSU Officers and the IOC Secretariat on many matters related to the increase of the programme’s effectiveness and to the capability of the Member States to manage the programme in the coming critical years, marked by the 1998 International Year of the Ocean, the final years of IDNDR and the last years of the Century. The Session should define the overall aim of the programme and identify the means to achieve it. Dr. Oliounine emphasized the responsibility of all the ITSU National Contacts in ensuring that governments and decision-makers give to the programme the highest level of priority, and financially support the programme’s activities. The credibility of the programme will depend on the results and products which should be delivered to the users without delay and in a suitable fashion. Finally, he reiterated the strong support and commitment of the IOC Assembly to the programme and called on the Member States present to meet the Session’s objectives in constructive, co-operative and friendly efforts.

Contralmirante L. Moreno Gonzales, Director, Hidrografia y Navegacion, welcomed the participants on behalf of the Peruvian Government, stressed the importance of the IOC Tsunami Programme to the sustainable development of Peru and described the role of the Hydrographic Service of the Peruvian Navy in organizing preventive measures against the tsunami disasters.

The Group received with interest and appreciation the statements given by the Chairman and the Director of the Peruvian Department of Hidrografia y Navegacion and decided to give the full texts in Annex V of the Summary Report.

The Group adopted the Agenda as presented in Annex I.

The Technical Secretary of the Session briefly reviewed the technical arrangements for the Session, presented the List of Documents, introduced new working and information documents and provided comments on the Provisional Timetable. The List of Documents is presented in Annex IV.

Cmdr. G. Hasembank Rotta, speaking on behalf of the local organizing committee described the local arrangements and informed the participants on the planned social activities. The Group acknowledged with thanks the decision of the Peruvian Government to provide interpretation into Spanish free of charge to the IOC and encouraged other Member States to follow this example when feasible.

The List of Participants and the List of Acronyms are given in Annex III and Annex IX respectively.

 Informational Documents