The First Meeting of the Working Group

REPORT OF THE MEETING

Introduction
1. The Working Group held its first meeting in Tokyo from 5 to 7 November 1997.
   
   
2. The Meeting was attended by representatives of the following countries: China; Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines; the Russian Federation, Thailand and Vietnam.
   
   
3. Representatives of the following international organizations also attended the meeting: the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the World Meteorological Organization.
   
   
4. The Meeting was opened with remarks by Mr Koichi Yamamoto, Parliamentary Vice Minister for the Environment, Japan, and Mr Tsuneo Nishida, Councilor of the Economic Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan.
   
   
5. Mr Akihiro MASUDA (Japan) was elected as chairman, Dr RTM SUTAMIHARDJA (Indonesia) was elected as vice-chairman, and Mr Tang Dingding (China) was elected as rapporteur.
   
   Adoption of Agenda
   
   
6. The Working Group adopted the provisional agenda which had been prepared and circulated by the Secretariat (EANET/WG 1/3).
   
   Report of the expert meetings
   
   
7. Mr Saburo KATO, Chairman of the Expert Meetings on Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia, presented the document EANET/WG 1/4/1, which describes the historical background and achievement of the four expert meetings (1993 - 1997). This was followed by a supplementary explanation by the Secretariat.
   
   
8. Following the particular attention paid to the conclusion of the fourth expert meeting held on 4-6 February 1997 in Hiroshima, Japan, the Meeting recognized the objectives of the first intergovernmental meeting, and confirmed the mandate of this Working Group on the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia, i.e. i) carry out preliminary discussion on organization of the first intergovernmental meeting to be held in early 1998, and on the documents of "Design of the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET)" and "Implementation of Preparatory-Phase Activities" for eventual review and identification by the first intergovernmental meeting; ii) to develop a work plan, and institutional and financial arrangements for preparatory phase activities.
   
   Design of the network
   
   
9. Extensive and thorough discussion was made over the DRAFT "Design of the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET)" (EANET/WG 1/5), which was prepared by the Secretariat based on the conclusion of the fourth expert meeting, with particular focus on the objectives, timing of establishment and adequacy of activities, as well as institutional and financial arrangements for the network.
   
   
10. The meeting developed the working draft of "Design of the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET)" (EANET/WG 1/5 Rev.1), which clarifies points of particular concern and options, and requested the secretariat to further develop the draft, taking into full consideration the comments and discussion made at the meeting, for circulation among the prospective member countries to collect broader comments by the end of 1997.
    
    Implementation of preparatory phase activities
    
    
11. Extensive discussion was made over the DRAFT "Implementation of the Preparatory Phase Activities" (EANET/WG 1/6), which was prepared by the Secretariat to explain work plans, institutional and financial arrangements, and actual monitoring components during the preparatory phase.
    
    
12. The meeting developed the working draft of "Implementation of the Preparatory Phase Activities" (EANET/WG 1/6 Rev.1), which clarifies points of particular concern and options, and requested the secretariat to update the draft, taking into full consideration the comments and discussion made at the meeting, for circulation among the prospective member countries to collect broader comments by the end of 1997.
    
    
13. The Delegation of Japan expressed Japan's willingness to host the second intergovernmental meeting, which is tentatively planned to be held in 2000, and working group meetings during the preparatory phase, as well as to host and finance the interim secretariat and the interim network center during the same period in collaboration with the relevant local governments and organizations. The Meeting welcomed the above expression.
    Organization of the intergovernmental meeting
    
    
14. Extensive discussion was made over the DRAFT "Provisional Agenda for the First Intergovernmental Meeting on the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia" (EANET/WG 1/7), which was prepared by the Secretariat.
    
    
15. The meeting requested the secretariat, in cooperation with the Government of Japan, to update the draft Agenda, taking into full consideration the comments and discussion made at the meeting, including the proposal by Japan to host the second meeting of the working group and the first intergovernmental meeting, planned tentatively to be held back-to-back on 17-18 and 19-20 March 1998 in Tokyo, for circulation among the prospective member countries through diplomatic channel for eventual confirmation. It was also addressed that representatives at the first intergovernmental meeting shall consist of senior level officials of each country.
    
    Adoption of the report of the meeting
    
    
16. The Meeting adopted for general distribution the report of The First Meeting of the Working Group on the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia, 5 - 7 November 1997, Tokyo, Japan.