(2004)0172 13 Dec. 2004

Informal Meeting of Defence Ministers (IM 2005) Nice, France 9-10 February 2005 1. Information Defence Ministers of NATO will hold an informal meeting in Nice, France, on 10 February 2005, under the chairmanship of the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. The Minister of Defence of France, Mrs Michèle Alliot-Marie will host the meeting. The “Palais des congrès Acropolis”, 1 Esplanade Kennedy is the venue for the ministerial sessions. The Media Centre will be located in the same Palais des congrès. 2. Accreditation and Security Checks The Media Accreditation Office will be located in the Hôtel Novotel, 2-4 Parvis de l’Europe, on one side of Esplanade Kennedy. Opening hours of the Media Accreditation Office: Tuesday, 8 February 09:00 – 18:00 hours Wednesday, 9 February 09:00 – 22:00 hours Thursday, 10 February 08:00 – 12:00 hours Applications for accreditation can only be made electronically on-line, by clicking on the following link: https://my.hq.nato.int/jas In order to complete your accreditation request, you will need to provide a digital picture. Only a 3,5 x 4,5 cm passport-size photograph in JPEG format will be accepted. Every applicant has to create a user name and password. Applications for accreditation should submitted to NATO before Friday, 4 February 2005. Applications received after that date will not be processed. Press passes will be available for collection at the Media Accreditation Office from 09:00 hours on Tuesday, 8 February 2005. Press passes to be worn visibly will not be mailed to applicants. They may be collected personally at the the Media Accreditation Office on presentation of an I.D. card or passport and a valid press card (or letter of accreditation from a recognized media organisation) which should be presented at any time upon request of security personnel. All 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 time to clear the security checks. Television and radio broadcasters, wire services and photo agencies with bulky equipment are particularly urged to move most of it into the Media Centre before 12:00 hours on Wednesday, 9 February 2005. 3. Media Centre The Media Centre located will be operational on the following hours: Wednesday, 9 February 12:00 – 24:00 hours Thursday, 10 February 08:00 – end of operations 4. Broadcasting Television and radio interview rooms and facilities are located at the Media Centre. Satellite uplink trucks and O.B. vans will be parked along the Media Centre. Electricity in France is 220V and plugs have two round pins. - Television and radio The Host Television Broadcaster, l’Etablissement de Communication et de Production Audiovisuelle de la Défense (ECPA-D), will provide coverage of arrivals of delegations, the opening session, the official group photograph, as well as main international news conferences. As the host radio broadcaster, ECPA-D, will provide the signal and technical assistance as well. For enquiries, please contact: Mr Christian Le Duc Television and radio Co-ordinator, ECPA-D Telephone: ++33 (0)1 49 60 52 64. Fax: ++33 (0)1 49 60 52 39 E-mail: christian.le-duc@ecpad.fr 5. Communications Laptop computers will need to be equipped with RJ 45 plugs in order to be able to connect to the high-speed communication net work. ISDN lines will be available for radio transmissions. Please check if you need to use an adapter in “Euro ISDN” standard. 6. Programme and pools The final programme of the meetings will be available upon accreditation. Media events will begin on Wednesday, 9 February. Pool cards will be distributed on the afternoon of Wednesday, 9 February. 7. Visas, Accommodation and Transport - Visas Please check with the nearest French Embassy or consulate General regarding visa requirements. - Accommodation Media representatives are encouraged to stay in Nice and are advised to book their hotel rooms as soon as possible. Hotel booking is still available (until January 10) in the following hotels: Novotel NICE centre Mercure Marché aux fleurs Mercure Alexandra Booking procedure for the hotels mentioned above, please use the special reservation form in annex (.PDF/26KB). - Grand hotel Aston www.grand-hotel-aston-nice.cote.azur.fr Media Representatives will be granted friendly fares. Apply to Mrs. Alexandra Gas, Tél: +33 (0)4 92 17 53 62 - Transport A bus service on arrival and departure will operate between Nice Côte d’Azur Airport and Parvis de l’Europe Wednesday, 9 February. Shuttle Schedule for 9 February, 2005: From Nice Côte d’Azur Airport: Two shuttles, both in the morning and in the afternoon will operate at departure times to be confirmed further. In addition of these free shuttles, the city buses are running from Nice airport to the buses main station close to Acropolis (the fare is 3,5 €). 8. Payment All major credit cards and bank transfers will be accepted for payments. Currency exchange is available at Banks and currency exchange offices in Nice. 9. Enquiries Colonel Annie Grimal IM-2005 Coordinatrice des médias Équipe spéciale du Ministère de la Défense Tél: +33 (0)1 44 42 50 64 Fax:: +33 (0)1 44 42 41 83 E-mail: nice2005@dicod.defense.gouv.fr Mr. François Le Blévennec NATO Media Co-ordinator NATO Press and Media Section Tel: +32 (0)2 707 50 38 Fax: +32 (0)2 707 50 57 E-mail: IM2004@hq.nato.int