Press Release (96)99 2 July 1996

Meeting of NATO Defence Ministers Bergen, Norway 25-26 September 1996 Media Advisory

Information Defence Ministers of the North Atlantic Alliance will hold an informal meeting in Bergen, Norway on 25-26 September 1996 under the chairmanship of NATO Secretary General, Dr. Javier Solana. The Norwegian Minister of Defence, Mr. Jörgen Kosmo, will host the meeting. Accreditation and Security Check Media representatives who wish to cover the meeting should complete the attached "request for accreditation" form (In .PDF format - Click here to download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader) and send it no later than August 15, 1996 to the NATO Defence Ministerial Task Force or NATO Press and Media Service whose addresses, telephone and fax numbers are found at the end of this advisory. Media representatives based in Norway should return their application to the NATO Defence Ministerial Task Force. All other media representatives should send their application to NATO Press and Media Service in Brussels. Press passes will be available for collection at the Media Centre from 09:00 on Monday 23 September on presentation of an ID card, passport or press card. Press passes must be worn inside the Media Centre. An ID card or passport must be shown at any time upon request of the security personnel. All media representatives accredited to the meeting are advised that security personnel will examine and may test equipment and personal effects carried onto the site. To avoid delays, media representatives must arrive early to be able to clear the security checks. Television, wire services and radio networks that have bulky equipment are particularly urged to move most of it as early as possible into the Media area. Telephone and telefax of the accreditation desk as from 23 September: Tel:Int'l-47 55 55 22 00 Fax:Int'l-47 55 55 22 10 Media Centre The Media Centre staffed by NATO and Royal Norwegian Ministry of Defence will be established in Radisson SAS from 23-27 September 1996. Monday 23 September - accreditation starts09:00 - 23:00 hours Tuesday 24 September - the working area opens 08:00 - 22:00 hours Wednesday 25 September 06:00 - 24:00 hours Thursday 26 September06:00 - 24:00 hours Friday 27 September08:00 - 14:00 hours The Media Centre will be equipped with adequate workspace, communication and transmission facilities. The telephones will be activated by phonecard or pin codes. Phone cards wil be sold at the Information desk of the Media Centre. Television offices will be made available at the SAS Hotel upon request to NRK or Royal Norwegian Ministry of Defence (see number below). For specific questions regarding television offices call or write: NRK, Gunnar Sjölie, tel: Int'l-47 22 45 54 83 fax: Int'l-47 22 45 83 44 News Conferences and Press Briefings The main news conferences of the Secretary General of NATO will take place at Grand Selskapslokaler, which is situated 3 minutes drive or 10 minutes walk from the Media Centre. National press briefings will take place at the SAS Hotel Media Centre and at the Grand Selskapslokaler. A TV interview room will also be installed at Grand Selskapslokaler, and radio journalists will find transmission facilities for urgent transmission. Grand Selskapslokaler is situated just beside Hotel Norge where the ministerial conference will take place. Transportation - Parking - Visas Media representatives should make their own transport arrangements to and from Bergen. The Media Centre is located approximately 30 minutes driving time from the nearest airport, Flesland. Flesland/Bergen International Airport is approximately 40 minutes flight from Oslo, the capital of Norway. The Media Centre is the end stop for airport bus transport. Private parking is available near the Media Centre. Bus transportation from the Media Centre to media events at Hotel Norge and Grand Selskapslokaler will be arranged, and it will be the only means for entering established security zones where media events will occur. Please check with the nearest Norwegian embassy regarding visa requirements. Accomodation Accommodation at the Media Centre will be available on a first come-first served basis. Media representatives interested in staying there should make their own reservations by calling: Radisson SAS. Tel:Int'l-47 55 54 30 00 orInt'l-47 55 54 31 20 Fax:Int'l-47 55 32 48 08 Other accommodations available in the area are: Rainbow Hotel Rosenkrantz tel:Int'l-47 55 31 50 00 fax:Int'l-47 55 31 14 76 Bryggen Orion tel:Int'l-47 55 31 80 80 fax:Int'l-47 55 32 94 14 Reservations at all three hotels should be made before 1 September. Up to this date a certain number of rooms will be available for media representatives. In view of the tourist season in this area, dates of arrival and departure as well as the number of occupants per room have to be made clear when making the reservation. Prices at Radisson SAS - single room and doudle room: NOK 1190, breakfast included. Prices at Rosenkrantz - single room/double room: NOK 625/850, breakfast included. Prices at Orion single room/double room: NOK 580/850, breakfast included. At all hotels you should ask for the reservation desk and indicate that you are representing the Press staying in Bergen in conjunction with the meeting of NATO Defence ministers. Payments Visa, MasterCard, Eurocard, Diners and American Express credit cards will be adequate for payment. Currency exchange service is available at several banks located a short walking distance from the hotels. Programme The final programme will be provided on accreditation at the Media Centre. Due to limited space, some media events can only be covered on a pool basis. Requests for pool cards should be made when checking in at the accreditation desk. The host broadcaster will cover the main public events and feed them back to the Media Centre where the coverage will be shown on video monitors. Enquiries For accreditation of media representatives based in Norway or general questions regarding the meeting of the NATO Defence Ministers write or call: NATO Defence Ministerial Task Force Royal Norwegian Ministry of Defence Section for Press and Information P.O. Box 8126 Dep N-0032 Oslo Tel:Int'l-47 22 40 23 15 or Int'l-47 22 40 23 01 Fax:Int'l-47 22 40 23 02 eva.nordvik@fd.dep.telemax.no For accreditation of all other media representatives or specific questions regarding NATO issues write or call: NATO Press and Media Service Boulevard Lopold III B-1110 Brussels Tel: Int'l-32 2 707 50 38 Fax: Int'l-32 2 707 50 57 NATODOC@HQ.NATO.INT