Informal Meeting of NATO Defence Ministers (IDM 1-2008)

1. Information

Defence Ministers will hold informal meetings in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Thursday 7 and Friday 8 February 2008, under the chairmanship of the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. The Minister of Defence of Lithuania, His Excellency Mr. Juozas Olekas, will host the meetings.

2. Programme and pools

The detailed Media Programme will be available upon accreditation. Via a system of pools, a restricted number of visual media will be invited to cover events with limited access. All media events will be transmitted live to the media centre via closed circuit TV. By accepting a pool card, cameramen and photographers agree to share their material with colleagues who have not had direct access to the venue. Pool cards will be available for pick-up from the Media Centre Information Desk from 10:00 on Thursday, 7 February.

3. Venue

The LITEXPO in Vilnius is the venue for the ministerial meetings. The Media Centre will be located in LITEXPO, Laisves Ave.. 5. The Media Accreditation Office will be located in the Europa City Hotel, Jasinskio Str. 14.

4. Accreditation and Security Checks

Media representatives wishing to cover the ministerial meetings need to request accreditation. Applications for accreditation can only be made electronically on-line via internet, by clicking on the following link: https://my.hq.nato.int/jas.

The Accreditation process requires interested media representatives to create a user name and password and to provide a digital picture (3.5 x 4.5 cm passport-size photograph in JPEG format). Applications for accreditation should be made no later than noon on Friday, 1 February 2008. Applications received after that date may encounter delay or be rejected. Media representatives having completed the request for accreditation on the internet must bring a print-out of the request confirmation.

Access to the Media Centre requires a media pass delivered at the Accreditation Office. Media passes will not be mailed to applicants and must be picked up in person at the Media Accreditation Office upon presentation of a valid I.D. card or passport and a valid press card (or letter of accreditation from a recognised media organisation). Passes need to be worn visibly at all times and secondary identification may always be asked for by security personnel. 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 lead time to clear security checks.

Television and radio broadcasters, wire services and photo agencies bringing bulky equipment are particularly urged to bring it into the Media centre prior to 12:00 on Wednesday, 6 February 2008.

5. Hours of Operation

6. Broadcasting

12 television and 8 radio editing booths are located in the Media Centre. A TV studio , a  radio interview room and 2 inside TV stand ups are also available. Satellite uplink trucks and O.B. vans will be parked next to the Media Centre.

The Host Television Broadcaster, Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT), will provide live coverage of arrivals of delegations, the public sessions of all meetings, and major international news conferences. For enquiries or to book a TV studio or TV editing booth, please contact:

• Mr. Jonas Ribokas
  Tel.: +370 5 236 32 21
  E-mail: jribokas@lrt.lt

The telephone number above is temporary; during the event  the responsible person will have a telephone number at the Media Centre. 

The Host Radio Broadcaster, LRT, will provide the signal and technical assistance. For enquiries, or to book the radio studio or a radio editing booth, please contact:

• Mr. Jonas Ribokas
  Tel.: +370 5  236 32 21
  E-mail: jribokas@lrt.lt

7. Communications

Laptop computers will need to be equipped with RJ 45 plugs in order to be able to connect to the LAN high-speed communication network in the Media Centre. Please bring your own ethernet cable. 2 ISDN lines will be available for radio transmissions. Please check if you need to use an adaptor in “Euro ISDN” standard. Electricity in Lithuania is 220 volts and plugs have two round pins.

8. Accommodation

Media representatives are encouraged to book their hotel rooms as soon as possible.  Special rates for the Media participating in the event will be available under the reference “Vilnius nato2008” until the 14 of January, 2008.

The recommended hotels are:
Europa City Hotel *** (Media Accreditation Office)
Jasinskio Str. 14, Vilnius, 01112
http://www.europacity.lt/

Standard single EUR 43.00 incl. breakfast
Standard double (twin) EUR 50.00 incl. breakfast

Point of Contact for this hotel: Sales Manager Mr. Edvardas Gandrimas
Tel.: +370 5 251 44 80
Ffax: + 370 5 261 41 60
E-mail: events@europacity.lt

Ratonda Hotel ****
Gedimino Ave. 52/1, Vilnius, 2600
http://www.centrumhotels.com/
Standard single EUR 89.00 incl. breakfast
Standard double (twin) EUR 105.00 incl. breakfast 

Point of Contact for this hotel: Sales Manager Ms. Ringaile Miliauskaite
Tel.: + 370 5 249 62 58
Fax: +370 5 212 06 69
Mob.: +370 698 10 165
E-mail: sales.ratonda@centrumhotels.com

Scandic Neringa Hotel ****
Gedimino Ave. 23, Vilnius, 01103
www.scandic-hotels.com/neringa

Standard single EUR 115.00 incl. breakfast and VAT
Superior single EUR 130.00 including breakfast and VAT
Standard double (twin) EUR 130 incl. breakfast and VAT
Superios double (twin) EUR 145 incl. breakfast and VAT

Point of Contact for this hotel: Sales Manager Ms. Edita Liutkeviciute,

Tel.: + 370 5 268 19 10
Fax: +370 5 261 41 60
E-mail: neringa@scandic.hotels.com

For general hotel-related enquiries, please contact:

Ms. Julija Misinaite
Tel.: +370 5 2785213
Fax: +370 5 2785245
E-mail: mailto:monique@move-consultancy.eu

9. Transport

Transport for the media representatives will be provided from the recommended hotels to the event sites and back. Transport from the Airport to recommended media hotels is the responsibility of each media representative.

10. Enquiries

• Ms.Viktorija Cieminyte
  Lithuanian Media Coordinator
  Tel.: +370 5 278 52 08
  Fax: +370 5 278 52 45
  E-mail: viktorija.cieminyte@kam.lt   
  
  
• Mr. Damien Arnaud
  NATO Media Coordinator
  Tel.:+32 2 707 50 38
  Fax : +32 2 707 50 57
  E-mail:mailto:%20press-at-vilnius@hq.nato.int