Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council Security Forum

2. A limited number of seats are reserved for media on a plane departing from Brussels to Astana on 24 June. Further details are available in para 18 below (Transportation).

Venue

3. The EAPC Security Forum will be held in the Palace of Independence in Astana. The Media Centre will be located on-site, and the Media Accreditation Office will operate in the Korme Exhibitional Complex (3 Dostyk Street, tel: +77152 52.43.12, +77172 52.43.21).

The Accreditation Office is approx.10 minutes by shuttle bus from the media centre.

Opening Hours

Programme and pools

4. The detailed Media Programme for the EAPC Security Forum will be available upon accreditation. Tentative schedule comprises:

• 24 June: EAPC countries’ representatives will be attending a working dinner. Media representatives will be offered a reception, in the Palace of Independence.
• 25 June: opening of plenary session in the morning; followed by 3 working groups, both mid-morning and in the afternoon, closing plenary session.

EAPC countries representatives, prominent media and NGOs representatives will attend the panels as speakers. The speakers list and the schedule of the panels will be available upon accreditation.

The Secretary General is expected to brief the media after closing the meeting.

This year the panels will focus on Afghanistan, Central Asia – Caucasus (security regional perspectives), and Energy Security.

5. Pools for limited number of written press representatives will be invited to participate in the panels and the plenary sessions. Pools will also be formed to bring visual media to the beginning of each of these events. Pool cards will be available for pick-up at the information desk of the media centre starting from 15h00 on Wednesday, 24 June 2009.

6. Panel and plenary sessions in their entirety will be covered live and broadcast to the Media Centre via close-circuit television, and also (partially) streamed on the NATO website.

7. An information day on NATO’s Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme will be held on 24 June 2009 in Almaty at Al-Farabi University in Almaty. The Information Day will focus on the major SPS achievements in Kazakhstan and in the wider region. The objective of this event is to discuss priorities and challenges for Central Asia in the field of security and science.

This event will bring together high-level national authorities, academics, other experts, and students from Central Asia. The Central Asian country representatives to the SPS Committee will also participate in this event to provide an overview of the benefits each country has received from the SPS Programme.

In addition, project co-directors from NATO and partner nations will demonstrate the added value of NATO’s SPS Programme to the scientific community, peace and stability in the region through its activities, including Virtual Silk Highway providing internet connectivity through National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) in Central Asia and Caucasus, including Afghanistan; destruction of the rocket fuel oxidizer Mélange in Uzbekistan.

Further information can be obtained from:

Mr. Mukhambetkali Burkitbayev
Al Farabi National University, Chemical Faculty
Tel +7727.292.3024
Fax +7727.292.3731
Email: mburkit@nursat.kz

8. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly organizes a Rose-Roth Seminar in Astana on June 26, at the same venue. Further information on the agenda and participation can be obtained from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly International Secretariat by contacting Roberta Calorio, Rose-Roth Programme Officer + 32 (0) 2 5048154 - press@nato-pa.int.

More information on the Rose-Roth Programme and Seminars is available on the NATO Parliamentary Assembly web site at http://www.nato-pa.int/Default.asp?SHORTCUT=143.

Accreditation and security checks

9. Media representatives wishing to cover the EAPC Security Forum need to request accreditation. Applications should be filled out only electronically, by clicking on the following link: https://my.hq.nato.int/jas.

10. The process requires the applicant 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 midnight on Friday, 19 June 2009. Applications received after that date may encounter delay or be rejected. Media representatives having completed the request for accreditation on-line must bring a print-out of the request confirmation.

11. 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 recognized media organization). Passes need to be worn visibly at all times and secondary identification may be asked by security personnel at any time. 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.

12. Television and radio broadcasters, wire services and photo agencies bringing bulky equipment into the Media centre are particularly urged to do so on 23 June and no later than 12h00 on 24 June 2009.

Facilities and broadcasting

13. Host Nation will provide standard workspaces for print and audio media (TV and radio editing booths included); additional fully equipped facilities for TV and radio stations will be available (2 stand ups, 1 TV and 1 radio studios). A Close Circuit Television System will operate in the media centre.

14. The Host Television and Broadcaster, Arnamedia, will provide live coverage of arrivals of delegations, the public sessions of all meetings and panel discussions and international news conferences. Arnamedia is also the Host Radio Broadcaster, and will provide signal and technical assistance.

For enquiries, or to book a TV / radio editing booth or studio, please contact:
Mr. Yilya Pustogachev
Telephone: +7 717 2 974 324
GSM: +7 701 214 04 08,
E-mail: I.pustogachev@arnamedia.gov.kz

Communications

15. Laptop computers will require RJ 45 plugs in order to connect to the high-speed internet. ISDN lines will also be available for radio transmissions. Please check if you need to use an adaptor in ‘Euro ISDN’ standard. Electricity in Astana is 220 Volts and plugs have two round pins.

Accomodation

16. Media representatives are encouraged to stay in Astana and are advised to settle their accomodations as soon as possible. Recommended media hotels (see below) will be included in the shuttle bus route to the Accreditation office and the Media centre. Early reservations are recommended, for assesing the transport needs.

Transportation

17. Journalists will make their own arrangements to arrive from the airport to the hotels. As from 23 June 2009, the Kazakh authorities will organise transport to and from designated media hotels and the Accreditation Office and to the Media Centre. Schedules for the shuttle bus will be available at the hotels, the Accreditation Office and the Media Centre.

18. A limited number of seats is being reserved on the NATO plane for members of the press permanently accredited to NATO and possibly their videographers. The plane will fly directly from Brussels to Astana on June 24. Journalists travelling to Astana on the NATO plane can also return on the same flight on 25 June after the end of the last scheduled event. Requests to book a seat on the NATO plane should be addressed to the NATO Press Service electronically at mailto:press-at-astana@hq.nato.int, not later than 5 June.

Visas and customs

19. Media representatives need a visa for entering Kazakhstan, and should check with the nearest Kazakh Embasy or Consulate or visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website regarding visa requirements - http://portal.mfa.kz/portal/page/portal/mfa/en/content/consular/visa_info.

20. In order to avoid possible confusion, media representatives should apply for a visa only after submitting for accreditation to the EAPC Forum. Also, media representatives are highly recommended to apply for a visa at least two weeks before the event. Journalists attending the EAPC Security Forum will be granted a visa free of consular charges.
More information on visa issuing is available on the dedicated section of the Kazakh Foreign Affairs Ministry website http://portal.mfa.kz/portal/page/portal/mfa or by contacting:

Mr. Kerim Kozhamberdiev
Tel: +7 7172 72 04 93,
GSM: +7 701 418 52 48
Fax: +7 7172 72 04 60
dks-astana@mid.kz, kozhamberdiev_k@mid.kz

21. Media representatives travelling to Kazakhstan will have to pass through customs. Both personal belongings (reasonably necessary for the trip) and those for professional needs during the EAPC Forum (sound, image and data supports, equipment meant for TV and radio production and broadcasting etc.) will be subject to customs procedures for temporary admission, and fees.
More information regarding custom procedures is available on the Kazakh Foreign Affairs Ministry website http://portal.mfa.kz/portal/page/portal/mfa.

Enquiries

Tel: +32 (0)2 707 50 41 – Fax: +32 (0)2 707 13 99
press@hq.nato.int – http//www.nato.int