A global tsunami early warning system could be in place by June, 2007, and such a regional system for the Indian Ocean, costing some 30 million US dollars could be ready one year earlier, a top level official from UNESCO, which is spearheading the effort to set up such a system, said Wednesday.

Koichiro Matsuura, director general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), said this in a press conference on the sidelines of a small island meeting in Indian Ocean island of Mauritius.

"If all goes well, an initial system for the Indian Ocean (hit hard by a devastating tsunami) could be in place by June, 2006," Matsuura said, noting the global system of tsunami early warning can be in place "a year later, if all goes well."

UNESCO announced Tuesday it is to team up with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to set up a global watch-out system for tsunamis in Mauritius, where the small island developing states are convening to ponder on the future of their fragile economy and ecosystem, and even their very existence afte the devastating tsunami that killed over 150,000 people across the Indian Ocean barely two weeks ago.

Matsuura said the Indian Ocean system is to cost approximately 30 million dollars, "excluding maintenance."

Admitting the amount is a "peanut" comparing to the damage of the tsunami, Matsuura said when UNESCO proposed the global early warning system years ago, "concerned governments didn't act ... donor didn't act." And the world learnt the lesson in a "very costly way."

Matsuura said the system in Indian Ocean is to copy the successful model of the tsunami warning system in Pacific Ocean, set up by UNESCO 40 years ago, and regional center is to be established, but they "haven't identified" a country to host the Indian Ocean headquarters as yet.

The UN official said below the regional network, every country is to set up its national strategy and a national system of early warning.