Luanda – Angola will join and ratify the statute of the Meteorological Association of Southern Africa (MASA) as soon as some pending administrative matters are settled.

This was announced Monday in Luanda by the deputy minister of Telecommunications and Information Technology, Pedro Teta.

 
Speaking at the opening of the 3rd annual general session of the Meteorological Association of Southern Africa, taking place from October 26 in Luanda, Pedro Teta said all is being done for Angola to join the organisation and contribute to its consolidation.

 
“Angola will make an effort to keep pace with the other countries of the region, in order to turn MASA into a solid structural and functional association that responds to the meteorological problems and climatic changes in the region”, he stressed.

 
He added that Angola is truly committed to joining MASA, which can be noted in its readiness in providing the material and financial resources to host the ongoing meeting.

 
The deputy minister, who said the MASA meeting will bring together synergies for the consolidation of the organisation, appealed to members to come together over the plan for definition of the resources raising strategy and tackle internal matters.

 
The official also expressed satisfaction at the composition of the committees on science and technology, human resources and gathering and distribution of meteorological data in the region.

 
Meanwhile, the 2nd annual general session of the MASA stressed the importance and role of the organisation in the development and economy of Southern Africa.

 
The said meeting also recommended the implementation of strategies on initiatives for climatic adaptation and alterations and cooperation with the SADC monitoring centre that is still to reach its goals due to the lack of infrastructures and human resources.

 
On the other hand, the programme for 2009/2010 includes the definition of its strategic plan and marshalling of resources that could support the project of development of the SADC meteorological services and implement the recommendations from the previous meeting.

 
In addition to the host country, the meeting is being attended by representatives from South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Botswana.

 
Also attending the meeting are representatives of the World Meteorological Organisation, SADC Secretariat, International Civil Association Organisation and of the Finland government that has been supporting the functioning of the association.