Regional Association II (ASIA) - E-Library - WMO

44 ABRIDGED FINAL REPORT OF THE THIRTEENTH SESSION OF RA IIProgramme was expected to serve as an instrumentof coordination for such arrangements (forinformation on the launch plans of MTSAT-1R ofJapan see general summary paragraph 4.2.10).12.12 The Association agreed that WMO, throughits Space Programme, had acted as a catalyst togreatly improve the utilization of satellite data andproducts. The Virtual Laboratory for Education andTraining in Satellite Meteorology had already made aconsiderable impact throughout the Region throughits Centre of Excellence co-sponsored by China atthe RMTC in Nanjing, China. The Association waspleased to see the integration of the new R&Dconstellation into education and training activities. Italso noted that the WMO Space Programme LongtermStrategy and associated Implementation Planhad provided for increased utilization of the VirtualLaboratory to the benefit of WMO Membersespecially for fuller exploitation of R&D data,products and services, as well as those from newand existing operational meteorological satellitesystems.12.13 With regard to the Centres of Excellence,the Association was pleased to learn of the offermade by Oman to host such a centre and that therehad been preliminary offers to co-sponsor it jointly byEUMETSAT and IMD. The Association recalled thebasic principle that education and training shouldoccur in the working language of the localmeteorological staff and therefore expressed a greatneed for a Centre of Excellence in the south-westernregion of Asia where a gap existed especially forArabic-speaking countries. The Associationencouraged Oman to move ahead with theestablishment of that centre and acknowledged thatthe approval process to achieve status as a Centreof Excellence was in progress. It was anticipatedthat CBS, at its thirteenth session, would considerthe proposal. The present configuration of the sixCentres of Excellence provided for education andtraining in Chinese, English, French and Spanish.Furthermore, the Association noted the recent effortsmade by EUMETSAT in holding a training event inOman that had confirmed the existence of thefacilities described in the proposal.12.14 The Association was informed thatROSHYDROMET had conducted training seminarson satellite data utilization in 2002 and again in 2004for countries from Central Asia in Russian and hadplans to continue that activity in future years.13. INFORMATION AND PUBLIC AFFAIRSPROGRAMME — REGIONAL ASPECTS(agenda item 13)13.1 The Association recalled that Resolution 23(Cg-XIV) — Information and Public AffairsProgramme, of Fourteenth Congress had underlinedthe need for greater visibility of the Organization andNMHSs, the importance of communication inmitigating the devastating impact of extreme weatherand climate events, and the necessity of a WMOGlobal Communication Strategy to guide andenhance the process of making NMHSs and WMOmore visible and better appreciated.13.2 The Association welcomed the GlobalCommunication Strategy of the Organizationcomprising five basic elements: projecting a unifiedand consolidated image of WMO and NMHSs;constituency-building both at national and regionallevels; spreading key messages giving a local voiceto a global undertaking and vision; fostering strategicalliances with the media; and promoting acommunication culture through which to demonstratethe great relevance of WMO and NMHSs to the dailylives of all citizens of the world. In that context, theAssociation noted with appreciation the increasedinteraction between the WMO Communications andPublic Affairs Office and Information and PublicAffairs (IPA) Focal Points and the electronic accessfor Members to the quarterly WMO press review.The Association also welcomed the initiative toconsult Members on WMO publications, includingthe Bulletin.13.3 The Association noted with appreciationthe public outreach activities undertaken by the IPAProgramme during the WSSD (Johannesburg, SouthAfrica, August/September 2002). New productsdeveloped for that occasion had resulted insignificant visibility of the Organization and NMHSsamongst the participants at the Summit, includingdelegates, media representatives and nongovernmentalorganizations (NGOs). Several pressconferences, including one held jointly with ISDR,had been organized for the media attending theSummit. Press releases and information materialshad been widely disseminated, including newbrochures, postcards, posters and videos. WMO andNMHSs had featured prominently in the UnitedNations system exhibit and in other exhibits set upfor the Summit. The Association welcomed the factthat the new brochures on sustainable developmentand the new video had been made available toNMHSs as valuable tools for their own publicinformation needs.13.4 In response to Resolution 23 (Cg-XIV), theAssociation invited its Members to ensure mutualassistance and support in matters related to publicinformation and communication, includingpartnerships and constituency-building, resourcemobilization and closer cooperation with the media,NGOs and advocacy groups, academic circles,parliamentarians, schools, universities, nationalmeteorological and hydrological societies, the privatesector and corporate foundations and other civilsociety institutions and public figures.13.5 With reference to the call by Congress foradditional public awareness-raising activities andproducts, the Association welcomed thedevelopment and dissemination of WMO greeting