Australian Treaty Series

The revised text of Article 13 reads as follows:

The Executive Committee shall consist of:

(a) The President and Vice-Presidents of the Organization;

(b) The Presidents of Regional Associations who can be replaced at sessions by their alternates, as provided for in the General Regulations;

(c) Twelve Directors of Meteorological Services of Members of the Organization, who can be replaced at sessions by alternates, provided:

(i) That these alternates shall be as provided for in the General Regulations;

(ii) That not more than seven and not less than two Members of the Executive Committee, comprising the President and Vice-Presidents of the Organization, the Presidents of Regional Associations and the twelve elected Directors shall come from one region, this region being determined in the case of each Member in accordance with the General Regulations."

The World Meteorological Organization amended the Convention of the World Meteorological Organization as follows:

- Modification of Articles 2, 5 [including title of Part V], 6, 7, 10 and 11;

- Deletion of Article 12;

- Renumbering of Articles 13 to 35 as Articles 12 to 34;

- Modification of Articles 13, 14, 16, 22, 24, 25 and 26 (as renumbered).

Following are texts of modified Articles:

The purposes of the Organization shall be:

(a) To facilitate worldwide cooperation in the establishment of networks of stations for the making of meteorological observations or other geophysical observations related to meteorology and to promote the establishment and maintenance of meteorological centers charged with the provision of meteorological services;

(b) To promote the establishment and maintenance of systems for the rapid exchange of meteorological information;

(c) To promote standardization of meteorological observations and to ensure the uniform publication of observations and statistics;

(d) To further the application of meteorology to aviation, shipping, agriculture, and other human activities; and

(e) To encourage research and training in meteorology and to assist in coordinating the international aspects of such research and training."

(a) Eligibility for election to the offices of President and Vice-Presidents of the Organization, of President and Vice-President of the Regional Associations, and for membership, subject to the provisions of Article 12(c)(ii) of the Convention, of the Executive Committee shall be confined to persons who are designated as the Directors of their Meteorological Service by the Members of the Organization for the purpose of this Convention.

(b) In the performance of their duties, all officers of the Organization and members of the Executive Committee shall act as representatives of the Organization and not as representatives of particular Members thereof."

(a) The Congress is the general assembly of delegates representing Members and as such is the supreme body of the Organization.

(b) Each Member shall designate one of its delegates, who should be the Director of its Meteorological Service, as its principal delegate at Congress.

(c) With a view to securing the widest possible technical representation, any Director of a Meteorological Service or any other individual may be invited by the President to be present and to participate in the discussions of the Congress in accordance with the provisions of the General Regulations (hereinafter referred to as "Regulations")."

In addition to functions set out in other Articles of the Convention, the primary duties of the Congress shall be:

(a) To determine general policies for the fulfilment of the purposes of the Organization as set forth in Article 2;

(b) To make recommendations to Members on matters within the purposes of the Organization;

(c) To refer to any body of the Organization any matter within the provisions of the Convention upon which such a body is empowered to act;

(d) To determine regulations prescribing the procedures of the various bodies of the Organization, and in particular, the general, technical, financial and staff Regulations,

(e) To consider the reports and activities of the Executive Committee and to take appropriate action in regard thereto;

(f) To establish Regional Associations in accordance with the provisions of Article 17; to determine their geographical limits, coordinate their activities, and consider their recommendations;

(g) To establish Technical Commissions in accordance with the provisions of Article 18; to define their terms of reference, coordinate their activities, and consider their recommendations;

(h) To determine the location of the Secretariat of the Organization;

(i) To elect the President and Vice-Presidents of the Organization, and members of the Executive Committee other than the Presidents of the Regional Associations;

Congress may also take any other appropriate action on matters affecting the Organization."

(a) In a vote in Congress each Member shall have one vote. However, only Members of the Organization which are States (hereinafter referred to as "Members which are States") shall be entitled to vote or to take a decision on the following subjects:

(1) Amendment or interpretation of the Convention or proposals for a new Convention;

(2) Requests for Membership of the Organization;

(3) Relations with the United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations;

(4) Election of the President and Vice-Presidents of the Organization and of the members of the Executive Committee other than the Presidents of the Regional Associations.

(b) Decisions shall be by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast for and against, except that elections of individuals to serve in any capacity in the Organization shall be by simple majority of the votes cast. The provisions of this paragraph however, shall not apply to decisions taken in accordance with Articles 3, 24, 25 and 27 of the Convention."

The presence of delegates of a majority of the Members shall be required to constitute a quorum for meetings of the Congress. For those meetings of the Congress at which decisions are taken on the subjects enumerated in paragraph (a) of Article 10, the presence of delegates of a majority of the Members which are States shall be required to constitute a quorum."

Delete Article 12 - First Meeting of the Congress; and

Renumber Article 13 - Composition, as amended by Resolution 1(Cg-IV), to read: Article 12 - Composition; and

Renumber all remaining Articles - from Article 14 to Article 35 inclusive - Article 14 as Article 13, et cetera.

The Executive Committee is the executive body of the Organization.

In addition to functions set out in other Articles of the Convention, the primary functions of the Executive Committee shall be:

(a) To implement the decisions taken by the Members of the Organization either in Congress or by means of correspondence and to conduct the activities of the Organization in accordance with the intention of such decisions;

(b) To consider and, where necessary, take action on behalf of the Organization on resolutions and recommendations of Regional Associations and Technical Commissions in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Regulations;

(c) To provide technical information, counsel and assistance in the field of meteorology;

(d) To study and make recommendations on any matter affecting international meteorology and the operation of Meteorological Services;

(e) To prepare the agenda for the Congress and to give guidance to the Regional Associations and Technical Commissions in the preparation of their agenda;

(f) To report on its activities to each session of Congress;

(g) To administer the finances of the Organization in accordance with the provisions of Part XI of the Convention.

The Executive Committee may also perform such other functions as may be conferred on it by the Congress or by Members collectively."

(a) The Executive Committee shall normally hold a session at least once a year, at a place and on a date to be determined by the President of the Organization, after consultation with other members of the Committee.

(b) An extraordinary session of the Executive Committee shall be convened according to the procedures contained in the Regulations, after receipt by the Secretary-General of requests from a majority of the members of the Executive Committee. Such a session may also be convened by agreement between the President and the two Vice-Presidents of the Organization."

The presence of two-thirds of the members shall be required to constitute the quorum for meetings of the Executive Committee."

(a) The Congress shall determine the maximum expenditure which may be incurred by the Organization on the basis of the estimates submitted by the Secretary General, after prior examination by, and with the recommendations of, the Executive Committee.

(b) The Congress shall delegate to the Executive Committee such authority as may be required to approve the annual expenditures of the Organization within the limitations determined by the Congress."

The Organization shall be in relationship to the United Nations pursuant to Article 57 of the Charter of the United Nations. Any agreement concerning such relationship shall require approval by two-thirds of the Members which are States."

(a) The Organization shall establish effective relations and cooperate closely with such other intergovernmental organizations as may be desirable. Any formal agreement entered into with such organizations shall be made by the Executive Committee, subject to approval by two-thirds of the Members which are States, either in Congress or by correspondence.

(b) The Organization may on matters within its purposes make suitable arrangements for consultation and cooperation with non-governmental international organizations and, with the consent of the government concerned, with national organizations, governmental or non-governmental.

(c) Subject to approval by two-thirds of the Members which are States, the Organization may take over from any other international organization or agency, the purpose and activities of which lie within the purposes of the Organization, such functions, resources and obligations as may be transferred to the Organization by international agreement or by mutually acceptable arrangements entered into between competent authorities of the respective organizations."

(a) The Organization shall enjoy in the territory of each Member such legal capacity as may be necessary for the fulfilment of its purposes and for the exercise of its functions.

(b) (i) The Organization shall enjoy in the territory of each Member to which the present Convention applies such privileges and immunities as may be necessary for the fulfilment of its purposes and for the exercise of its functions.

(b) (ii) Representatives of Members, officers and officials of the Organization as well as members of the Executive Committee shall similarly enjoy such privileges and immunities as are necessary for the independent exercise of their functions in connection with the Organization.

(c) In the territory of any Member which is a State and which has acceded to the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 21 November 1947 such legal capacity, privileges and immunities shall be those defined in the said Convention."

[1] Adopted by the Fourth Congress of the World Meteorological Organization, at its seventh plenary meeting, pursuant to Resolution 1(Cg-IV). The Amendments entered into force for Australia and generally 11 April 1963. Article 13 was subsequently renumbered Article 12 by amendments adopted 27 April 1963 (see following).

[2] Adopted by the Fourth Congress of the World Meteorological Organization, at its sixteenth plenary meeting, pursuant to Resolution 2(Cg-IV). The Amendments entered into force for Australia and generally 27 April 1963, in accordance with Article 27(c), as renumbered.