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United States Department ofth... Interior
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240

Honorable Amata Kabua
President
Marshall Islands Government
Majuro, Marshall Islands 96960
Dear President Kabua:
I am enclosing for your information a copy of a letter I recently

received from the Minister of Public Works, Kunar Abner, with
respect to a request that the people of Mejit and Ailuk Atoll be
included in the proposed medical survey of Likiep Atoll. A copy of
my reply to Minister Abner also is enclosed.
You will recall that I wrote to Mr. Anton DeBrum, Secretary of

Foreign Affairs, on June 15, 1979, when he was in Washington on the
proposed Likiep survey. This was followed up by my Jetter of July 5,
1979, to you requesting additional information which is needed for

planning purposes.

I well appreciate the concern of Minister Abner for his constituents
on Ailuk and Mejit. The Department of the Interior and the Department
of Energy believe, that in the best interests of all concerned, there
should be one official point of contact in your government as well as

here with respect to the proposed Likiep survey.

execution of any future survey make

Orderly planning and

this essential.

This contact in

the Marshalls Government we have conceived as being your immediate
office. With respect to the Federal agencies involved, our Department

will serve as the official point of contact.

I would appreciate it if you would let me know if this coincides with

your thinking.

Sincerely yours,

RUTH G. VAN CLEVE
Mrs. Ruth G. Van Cleve
Director

Office of Territorial Affairs
Enclosures

ce:\_Dr. Bruce Wachholz, DOE

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