The message reads, in part:
"The World Meteorological Organisation is one of the oldest and most respected specialised UN bodies. During its many years of productive and multifaceted work, the WMO has helped unite the efforts of the international community in addressing the problems that face all of humankind and done much to strengthen international cooperation in weather studies and to promote an exchange of experience including the latest forecasting technologies.
"Sustainable socio-economic development in many countries, environmental security, health and the wellbeing of millions of people around the world depend on the competent and highly professional work of the WMO and on the effective coordination of the national weather and hydrometeorological services.
"Russia has always participated in large and necessary WMO programmes and often proposed timely and important initiatives.
"I am confident that the Sixteenth WMO Congress will proceed in a constructive and purposeful atmosphere, and that its decisions and recommendations will be widely applied in practice."