Meeting of the Council in Permanent Session with the United States Vice President Joseph Biden

General

1.         The North Atlantic Council will meet at NATO Headquarters on Tuesday, 10 March 2009 in pemanent session and in presence of the United States Vice President, Mr. Joseph Biden. A media centre will be open at NATO the entire day, from 6:30 a.m.

2.         A very restricted pool will be admitted to cover the opening remarks of the Council meeting mid morning. By accepting a pool card, cameramen and photographers agree to share their material upon request with colleagues who not had direct access to the venue. The opening remarks will be transmitted live on CCTV and can be viewed and recorded in the media centre, as well as on the NATO website with live streaming and via EBU on satellite.

3.         The Vice President and the Secretary General will hold a joint Press Conference early afternoon. Access to the press conference does not require a pool card.

4.         NATO Photographers and Cameramen provide audio-visual products of all media events on the NATO website or via the TV/Radio unit (see contact details below).

Accreditation and Security Checks

5.         Journalists holding a valid permanent NATO media pass need not apply for accreditation and will have access as usual.

6.         Media representatives not in possession of a valid permanent NATO media pass and wishing to cover the meeting 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.

7.         Applications should be made no later than 18:00 on Monday, 9 March 2009. Applications received after that date will encounter delays and may be rejected. Media representatives having completed the request for accreditation on the internet must bring with them a print-out of the request confirmation. Late requests will not be considered for pools.

8.         NATO’s regular Accreditation procedures apply for this meeting. The accreditation process requires media representatives using the system for the first time to create a username and password and to provide a digital picture (3.5 x 4.5 cm passport-size photograph in JPEG format). Furthermore, media representatives residing in Belgium are requested in the application web-interface to provide their Belgian press card number and issuing authority (the Belgian Ministry of Interior or the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

9.         Access to the Media Centre requires a NATO media pass. 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 organisation). The Media Accreditation Office will be located in portacabins on the left of the Main site entrance of NATO Headquarters. 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 therefore advised to arrive with sufficient lead time to clear security checks.

Facilities

10.       Thirteen television and 8 radio editing booths (each with ISDN, Internet and phone) will be available for radio and TV networks. Please call the TV and Radio unit (contacts below) for reservation on a first-come/first-served basis. The Press Conference and any opening remarks will be distributed live and on world feed and web streaming (16/9 format). Tape recordings are available in 16/9 and 4/3 formats, in Beta digital, Beta SP, DVC pro and DV Cam. For users of P2 format, the feed will be available in one of the TV editing booths.

11.       Broadcasters, wire services and photo agencies bringing bulky equipment are encouraged to bring it into the Media Centre early on Tuesday morning.

Opening hours

Parking

12.       Media representatives are advised that they will not be allowed to park their vehicles inside the NATO compound; they will be allowed to park on the “East” and “ West” parking areas, just outside NATO’s Main site entrance. Outside broadcasting vans will park in the dedicated area of parking “East“ or on “parking H” upon request.

Points of contact