Press Release (2000) 048 15 May 2000

Foreign Ministers Meetings, Florence 24-25 May 2000 Date and place Meetings at Foreign Ministers level of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) and between NATO Foreign Ministers and the Foreign Ministers of Partner Countries will be held in Florence on 24-25 May 2000. The meetings will take place in the Fortezza da Basso citadel in Florence (close to the railway station), Viale Filippo Strozzi, Porta S. Maria Novella. Second media advisory 1. Media facilities 1. Working area The Media Centre will be set up in the Arsenale building of the Fortezza da Basso. It will include individual work spaces equipped with telephones, modems and power supply sockets. 2. TV and radio RAI is co-ordinating the installation of facilities for television and radio. Editing booths without equipment will be available on order. For further information please contact: RAI For bookings: Technical contact: Mrs. Laura Maggiore Mr. Antonio de Lella Tel: +39 06 33 17 28 14 Tel: +39 06 33 17 96 76 Fax: +39 06 33 17 06 36 Fax +39 06 33 54 40 57 e-mail: eurovision@rai.it e-mail: a.della@rai.it 2. Accreditation and enquiries Applications for accreditation should be made before 15 May 2000, using the attached form which should be sent to the appropriate address: a. For Media representatives based outside Italy: Mr. François Le Blévennec NATO Press and Media Service B-1110 Brussels Belgium Tel. +32 (0)2 707 50 38 Fax +32 (0)2 707 50 57 e-mail: press@hq.nato.int b. For Media representatives based in Italy Ministero Degli Affari Esteri Servizio Stampa & Informazione Mrs Loreta Nocentini Tel. +39 06 36 91 34 32 Fax: +39 06 36 91 21 22 3. Collection of passes - security checks Accreditation passes can be collected from 09:00 on Monday, 22 May at the accreditation desk in the Media Centre, on presentation of a valid press card and a further proof of identity with photograph. The pass and the proof of identity should be carried at all times. Opening hours of the accreditation desk: Monday 22 May 09:00 - 17:00 Tuesday 23 May 09:00 - 23:00 Wednesday 24 May 07:00 - 20:00 Thursday 25 May 07:00 - 18:00 All media representatives are informed that security personnel at the Media Centre will examine and may also test equipment and personal effects carried onto the site. To avoid delays, media representatives are requested to arrive with sufficient time to clear the security checks. Television broadcasters, wire services and radio stations with cumbersome or bulky equipment are particularly urgent to move most of it into the media area as early as possible. 4. Opening hours of the media centre The Media Centre will be open at the following times: Monday 22 May 09:00 - 17:00 Tuesday 23 May 09:00 - 23:00 Wednesday 24 May 07:00 - 23:00 Thursday 25 May 07:00 - 20:00 5. Parking Private vehicles will not be able to park inside the Fortezza da Basso Technical vehicles will be allowed to park in the Media Centre area after the appropriate security check. These vehicles, once admitted, will not be allowed to re-enter without a security check. 6. Visas - accommodation Media representatives from some countries will need a visa to enter Italy. Those in doubt should consult the nearest Embassy of Italy. Due to the particularly crowded tourist season, media representatives are advised to book their hotel rooms as soon as possible. Accommodation can be booked through: Mrs. Cristina Valenti Organizzazione Internazionale Congressi (OIC) Viale Matteotti 7 50121 Firenze Tel. +39 05 55 03 53 44 Fax: +39 05 55 52 84 21 e-mail: c.valenti@oic.it 7. Pool arrangements Depending on the number of media representatives requesting to cover various events, the organisers may have to limit coverage to restricted groups on a pool basis. Pool passes will be distributed at the accreditation desk, starting from 16:00 on Tuesday, 23 May 2000. Requests for pool passes should be made when checking in at the desk for accreditation. All public events will be shown on closed-circuit television which can be watched at several places in the Media Centre as well as in the editing booths of television and radio stations. 8. Tentative programme All times are subject to change Tuesday, 23 May 2000 Arrival of Delegations in hotels 20:00 hours Reception for the Press at the Fortezza da Basso hosted by the Italian Authorities. Wednesday, 24 May 2000 08:30 hours Meeting of the North Atlantic Council 12:55 hours Family portrait 13:00 hours Working luncheon 15:30 hours News conference by the Secretary General of NATO 16:00 hours Meeting of the NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council (PJC) To be confirmed 18:05 hours News conference by the PJC Chair To be confirmed 20:30 hours Official dinner hosted by the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Thursday, 25 May 2000 08:45 hours Signing of PfP framework document by Croatia 09:00 hours Meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission (NUC) 10:35 hours The NATO Secretary General and the Ukrainian Foreign Minister jointly meet the Press 11:00 hours Meeting of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council 13:15 hours Family portraint 13:20 hours Working luncheon