Russian Representative to Head World Meteorological Organisation

Alexander Bedritsky, the head of the Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (ROSGIDROMET), is expected to be elected president of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) for the coming four years, reported the informed sources.

The election will take place during the 14th WMO Congress scheduled for May 5-24 in Geneva.

Alexander Bedritsky said in an exclusive interview with RIA Novosti that "Russia has always played a tangible role within the WMO. " According to him, "Russia makes its contribution to the WMO via ROSGIDROMET in several directions." It is above all the intensive exchange of hydrometeorological data within the framework of the WMO basic programme - the World Weather Service.

In addition, Bedritsky continued, "Russian scientists take an active part in experiments being conducted in various regions of the world in compliance with this programme. The head of ROSGIDROMET pointed out that Russia, apart from fulfilling the functions of one of the three world meteorological centres (Washington, Melbourne, Moscow), actively supports the national meteorological programmes of the developing countries, helps them prepare specialists in the educational establishments in St. Petersburg and Moscow.

Alexander Bedritsky also stressed that close international cooperation in meteorology and environmental monitoring, which is a key element of human activity, is impossible without "a free and unlimited data exchange." No one of the national meteorological services in the world can work without such an exchange.

Delegations from 185 states and territories - the WMO members - and representatives of UN agencies concerned, ad-hoc international and non-governmental organisations are expected to take part in the 14th World Meteorological Congress to be opened in Geneva on Monday.