Summit Meetings of Heads of State and Government Riga, Latvia, 28-29 November 2006

1. INFORMATION

Meetings of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) at Heads of State and Government level will be held in Riga on 28-29 November 2006.

The meetings will take place in the “Olympic Sports Centre”, 6B Grostonas street, Riga, Latvia.

The Media Centre will be located in the same building.

2. ACCREDITATION AND SECURITY CHECKS

The Media Accreditation Centre will be located in Riga Hanza Secondary school at the following address:

5 Grostonas street, Riga, Latvia. It is situated in close proximity to the Media Centre.

Opening hours of the Media Accreditation Centre are:

Thursday, 23 November	10:00 - 18:00
Friday, 24 November	10:00 - 18:00
Saturday, 25 November	10:00 - 18:00
Sunday, 26 November	10:00 - 18:00
Monday, 27 November	09:00 - 24:00
Tuesday, 28 November	07:00 - 20:00
Wednesday, 29 November	07:00 - 12:00

Applications for accreditation can only be made electronically on-line, by clicking on the following link: https://my.hq.nato.int/jas

In order to complete your accreditation request, you will need to provide a digital picture. Only a 3.5 x 4.5 cm passport-size photograph in JPEG format will be accepted. Every applicant has to create a user name and password.

Applications for accreditation should be submitted to NATO not later than Wednesday, 22 November 2006.

Applications received after that date may not be processed.

Press passes will be available for collection at the Media Accreditation Office from 10:00 hours on Thursday, 23 November.

Press passes to be worn visibly will not be mailed to applicants. They may be collected personally at the Media Accreditation Office on presentation of an I.D. card or passport and a valid press card (or letter of accreditation from a recognized media organisation), which should be presented at any time upon request of security personnel. Media representatives are asked to bring a print-out of the confirmation for successfully having submitted their personal details for the on-line accreditation request.

All media representatives are informed that security personnel will examine and may test equipment and personal effects carried onto the site and are advised to arrive with sufficient time to clear the security checks.

Television and radio broadcasters, wire services and photo agencies with bulky equipment are particularly urged to move most of it into the Media Centre before 12:00 hours Monday, 27 November 2006.

3. MEDIA CENTRE

The Media Centre staffed by NATO and Latvian personnel will be located within the premises of the Olympic Sports Centre.

Opening hours for the Media Centre are:

Sunday, 26 November	09:00 - 22:00 hours
Monday, 27 November	09:00 – End of operations
Tuesday, 28 November	08:00 – End of operations
Wednesday, 29 November	06:30 - 22:00 hours

The Media Centre will be equipped with adequate workspace, communications, and transmission facilities. The entrance to the Media Centre will be through the Media Accreditation Centre (Riga Hanza Secondary School, 5 Grostonas street, Riga, Latvia).

TELEVISION - Host Broadcaster

The Host TV Broadcaster for the Summit is Latvian Television (LTV). LTV will provide coverage of delegation arrivals, the opening session, official photographs, evening events, and main international news conferences.

A complete international broadcasting centre and master control, with stand-up positions inside and outside and an interview studio are available.

Eurovision will provide comprehensive broadcast facilities, including stand-up positions for live programme inserts, tape playout, editing and distribution of the pool audio and video signals in the un-equiped workspaces/TV editing rooms.

For Eurovision services, full specifications, Eurovision stand-up locations and rates, please visit http://www.eurovision.net/ or contact

Mr. Lance Newhart
Eurovision Operations
European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
Telephone: + 41 (0)22 717 28 40
Mobile: + 41 (0)79 200 87 94
Fax: + 41 (0)22 747 48 40
E-mail: newhart@eurovision.net

RADIO - Host Broadcaster

The Host Radio Broadcaster for the summit is European Broadcasting Union (EBU). EBU will install sound distribution points in the radio broadcast booths. EBU will provide signal and technical assistance. For EBU services, full specifications and rates, please contact:

Ms. Julia Lonicer
Radio News co-ordinator
European Broadcasting Union
Telephone: + 41 (0)22 717 26 07
Mobile: + 41 (0)79 230 15 08
Fax: + 41 (0)22 747 46 07
E-mail: Lonicer@ebu.ch

ISDN lines for radio transmissions will be available. ISDN lines will be in “Euro ISDN” standard. Please check if you need a proper adaptor to use Euro ISDN lines.

4. TV/RADIO INTERVIEW STUDIOS

One television and two radio interview studios are located in the Media Centre.

For full specifications, rates and bookings please contact:

TV:

Mr. Harijs Lavkinaitis
Latvian Television
Telephone: +371 720 01 50
Mobile: +371 2 937 78 08
Fax: +371 720 08 08
E-mail: Harijs.Lavkinaitis@ltv.lv

Radio:

Mr. Aivars Ginters
Latvian Radio
Telephone: +371 720 67 57,
Mobile: +371 2 935 53 84;
E-mail: ag@latvijasradio.lv

5. UPLINK TRUCKS

Uplink trucks will be given access to the Media Centre.

They will be allowed to enter the premises:

Sunday, 26 November	09:00 - 21:00
Monday, 27 November	09:00 - 21:00
Tuesday, 28 November	09:00 - 12:00

Please, note that there is limited number of parking slots, therefore we advice to book your parking slot in advance by contacting:

Mr. Gatis Olte
Coordinator on TV and Radio Technical Issues
Telephone: + 371 701 77 65
Mobile: +371 2 610 46 59
Fax: + 371 701 77 98
E-mail: gatis.olte@mod.gov.lv

6. ELECTRICITY AND ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES

Voltage in Latvia is 220V, and plugs have two round pins. An adapter is needed for different voltages and plugs.

7. COMMUNICATIONS

LAN network Internet access will be available in the media working zones at the Media Centre.

Also, wireless internet access will be possible in most areas of the Media Centre.

Laptop computers will need to be equipped with an RJ 45 plug in order to be able to connect to the LAN network.

8. ACCOMMODATION

The Latvian Authorities have entrusted travel agency Con-Ex Latvia Tours Group with the accommodation arrangements for the NATO Summit meetings in Riga, Latvia. Media and representatives may make their hotel reservations via Con-Ex Latvia Tours Group.

In order to guarantee the best available accommodation opportunities for media representatives, Con-Ex Latvia Tours Group has made tentative block-bookings of hotel rooms in Riga. A number of suitable hotels have been identified and rates have already been negotiated and will remain valid during the Riga Summit period. (See Annex 1, Media Hotel List)

Media representatives are invited to inform Con-Ex Latvia Tours Group of their accommodation requirements by completing Media Hotel Booking Form. The information on press and media accommodation is available at http://www.rigasummit.lv/ and http://www.latviatours.lv/

In case of any questions related to accommodation in Riga during the NATO Summit period please contact:

Ms. Marta Auzina
Telephone: +371 708 50 73 Fax: +3717820020
E-mail: marta.auzina@con-ex.com
Web: http://www.latviatours.lv/

9. TRANSPORT

Media representatives are advised to use their own means of transportation to and from the airport.

In addition, from 06:00 AM on Monday, 27 November till 1:00 AM on Thursday, 30 November a shuttle bus service will operate between the Airport, Accreditation Centre and the bus stops near media hotels in Riga:

1. Airport- Hotels- Airport

From 6:00 AM on Monday 27, November
Till 1:00 AM on Thursday 30, November

2. Airport-Media Accreditation Centre/Media Centre- Airport

From 6:00 AM on Monday 27, November
Till 1:00 AM on Thursday 30, November

3. Hotels- Media Accreditation Centre/Media Centre (24hours)- Hotels

From 6:00 AM on Monday 27, November
Till 11:00 PM on Wednesday 29, November

Special passport checking points for the summit media representatives will be designated upon arrival at the Riga International Airport.

10. VISAS

Visas are not required for NATO member countries except for ordinary passport holders from Turkey.

Visa requirements for all other countries.

Please check with the nearest Latvian Embassy, Consulate General or http://www.am.gov.lv/ regarding visa requirements.

More information regarding possibilities to get visa for media representatives coming from the countries where there is no Latvian Embassy or Consulate General, will be available later. More information on http://www.rigasummit.lv/

11. ENQUIRIES

Ms. Ilze Rassa
Head of Press and Public Relations,
Summit Meeting Media Manager
Latvian Task Force
Tel: + 371 701 77 39; + 371 701 77 64
Mobile: + 371 29 49 92 47
Fax: + 371 701 77 98
E-mail: ilze.rassa@mod.gov.lv
summitpress@mod.gov.lv
Web: http://www.rigasummit.lv/

Mr François Le Blévennec
NATO Media Co-ordinator
NATO Press and Media Section
Tel: +32 (0)2 707 50 38
Mobile: +32 (0) 475 47 02 25
Fax: +32 (0)2 707 50 57
E-mail: leblevennec.francois@hq.nato.int

• Annex: List of hotels (.PDF/ 98KB)