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order to disseminate the International System of Units (SI) and to romote
worldwide traceability of measurement standards and international uniformity
of measurement systems. These are traditionally the main objectives of
the Convention. The proposal was presented in October 1999 to the 21st
General Conference of Weights and Measures (CGPM) in Paris and was supported
unanimously. As one of the proposers, I am very pleased to see the creation
of the special Day and hope that as many states and economies as possible
will make use of it to promote their metrology activities by organizing
appropriate events and publicity in collaboration with other members and/or
regional organizations as necessary.As is well known, the history of the
metric system goes back to the work of French scientists in the 18th century,
but the consensus among potential states to adopt it as a worldwide measurement
system was not reached until 1875. This followed lengthy scientific and
diplomatic discussions in several international meetings organized through
the initiative of the French govemment. At first only 17 states ratified
the Convention, but the number of signatories increased to 21 in 1900,
to 32 in 1950, to 44 by 1975 and currently there are 48.
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and their mutual recognition are increasingly required.
The CIPM continues to invite those states outside the Convention to join
as new members but, at the same time, is aware that there are many smaller
or less afnuent states or economies that would have difficulty meeting
the cost of membership of the Convention. As a mechanism tcI connect those
States and economies to the Member States, the CIPM proposed a new scheme
of Associates whereby, upon payment of a minor subscription, they are able
to be linked to the Mutual Rec ognition Arrangement for measurement standards
and for calibration and measurement certificates. The scheme was authorized
by Resolution 2 of the 21st CGPM. The proposal for creating Associates
was adopted as Resolution 3 at the same CGPM, and we are very pleased to
have Hong Kong, one of our APMP members, be the first Associate of the
Metre Convention as ofApri1 2000. I do hope to have more Member States
and Associates of the Metre Convention from the APMP region in the near
future.
August 18, 200
Kozo Iizuka
Vice-President of the CIPM
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