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Updated: 30-Mar-2005 NATO Press Releases

Press Release
(2005)032

9 March 2005
Informal Meeting of Foreign Ministers (IFM 2005)
Vilnius, Lithuania
20-21 April 2005

1. Information

Foreign Ministers of NATO will hold an informal meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, on 20 and 21 April 2005, under the chairmanship of the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, His Excellency Mr. Antanas Valionis will host the meeting. The Reval Hotel Lietuva, Konstitucijos pr. 20, Vilnius, is the venue for the ministerial sessions. The Media Centre will be located in the Forum Palace, Konstitucijos pr. 26, Vilnius.

2. Accreditation and Security Checks

The Media Accreditation Office will be located in front of the Media Centre, at the "Lithuanian Children and Youth Centre", Konstitucijos pr. 25, Vilnius.

Opening hours of the Media Accreditation Office:

Tuesday, 19 April 09:00 – 18:00 hours
Wednesday, 20 April 09:00 – 20:00 hours
Thursday, 21 April 07:30 – 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 be submitted to NATO before Thursday, 14 April 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, 19 April 2005.

Press passes are to be worn visibly and will not be mailed to applicants. They shall be collected personally at 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 produced 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 pass 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, 20 April 2005.

3. Media Centre

The Media Centre will be operational on the following hours:

Wednesday, 20 April 12:00 – 22:00 hours
Thursday, 21 April 08:00 – 22:00 hours

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 Lithuania is 220V and plugs have two round pins.

- Television

The Host Television Broadcaster, Lithuanian Radio and Television and Lietuvos Telekomas will provide coverage of arrivals of delegations, the opening session, the official group photograph, as well as main international news conferences.

For enquiries, please contact:

Mr. Petras Alijosius,
Television Co-ordinator,
Lithuanian Radio and Television
Telephone: +370 5 236 32 68
Fax: +370 5 213 24 65
E-mail: petrasa@lrt.lt

- Radio

The Host Radio Broadcaster will provide the signal and technical assistance.

For enquiries, please contact:

Mr. Vytautas Marozas
Radio Co-ordinator
Lithuanian Radio and Television
Telephone: +370 5 236 32 02
Fax: +370 5 213 24 65
E-mail: marozas@lrt.lt

5. Communications

Media Centre will have international telephone, faxing facilities, TV and radio editing and broadcasting capabilities.

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 (LAN)

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, 20 April.

Pool cards for the events with limited access will be distributed at the Media Centre early in the afternoon of Wednesday, 20 April.

7. Visas, Accommodation and Transport

- Visas

Please check with the nearest Lithuanian embassy or consulate general regarding visa requirements.

- Accommodation

The Lithuanian authorities together with the Baltic Clipper Agency has identified a number of 3 and 4 star hotels that are recommended for media use. Media representatives are kindly requested to limit themselves to these hotels due to organisational arrangements (shuttle buses will be arranged between these hotels and the Media Centre).

Media representatives are invited to inform about their hotel room requirements, using the reservation form (.PDF/178KB). It should be completed and returned no later than 18 March 2005. Please consult the special hotel rates.

The Baltic Clipper Agency will inform media representatives about the hotel retained for them, will confirm the number and type of rooms reserved and advice about the cancellation policy at the latest by 1 April 2005.

Media representatives will guarantee payment by providing a credit card number.

- Transport

A shuttle bus service on arrival will operate on 19 and 20 April and on departure on 22 April between Vilnius Airport and the recommended hotels.

Shuttle Schedule will be written down at the Vilnius Airport information desk as well as at the recommended hotels.

A shuttle bus service from the recommended hotels to the Media Centre and back will also be available on the 20 and 21 April.

Public transport (bus and taxi) is also available from the Vilnius Airport to the Media Centre and close to the recommended hotels.

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 Vilnius.

9. Social Event – Guided Tour to Trakai Castle

On 20 April accredited journalists are welcome to participate in the guided tour around Trakai (former capital of Lithuania, located 30 min driving from Vilnius), organized by the Lithuanian State Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Economy (Language: English).

Registration form (.PDF/89KB).
For more details (.PDF/125KB).

10. Enquiries

Mr. Liutauras Bauža
Lithuanian Media Co-ordinator
Information and Public Relations Department
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Telephone: +370 5 236 24 55
Fax : +370 5 231 30 90
E-mail: media@urm.lt

Mr. François Le Blévennec
NATO Media Co-ordinator
NATO Press and Media Section
Telephone: +32 (0)2 707 50 38
Fax: +32 (0)2 707 50 57
E-mail: ifm2005@hq.nato.int

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