SUMMIT MEETINGS

OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT

 

Bucharest, Romania, 2 to 4 April 2008

 

1. General

 

The North Atlantic Council (NAC) at the level of Heads of State and Government will meet in formal session in Bucharest, Romania, on 2, 3 and 4 April 2008. There will also be an expanded meeting on Afghanistan. Meetings of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and of the NATO-Ukraine Commission will also be held at Summit level in Bucharest. High-level meetings including at the level of Heads of State and Government may also be held in other configuration – these will be announced if they are confirmed.  

 

The Summit will be chaired by the Secretary General of NATO, Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. The Romanian President, H.E. Mr.  Traian Bãsescu will host the meetings.

 

2. Programme and Pools

 

A definitive programme will be distributed to Accredited Media Representatives on site, upon the delivery of their individual media pass. Elements of the programme will be available on the NATO website some days before the event.

 

Pool cards will be used for access by visual media to restricted media events. These pool cards will be distributed to visual media representatives via the national delegations on site on 1 April 2008. No pool cards are required for access to press conferences.

 

3. Information on Accreditation Procedures

Media representatives wishing to cover the Summit 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.

The Accreditation process requires interested media representatives to create a user name and password and to provide a digital picture (3.5 x 4.5 cm passport-size photograph in JPEG format). Those with an already-defined user name and password can use their existing profile for this request. Applications for accreditation should be made no later than 19h00 on Saturday, 29 March 2008. Applications received after that date may be refused access or encounter delay. Media representatives having completed the request for accreditation on the internet are encouraged to bring a print-out of the request confirmation.

Access to the Media Centre requires a media pass delivered at the Media Accreditation Office. 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 recognised media organisation).

The Media Accreditation Office will be located in temporary structures in Izvor Park, Bucharest, across from the meeting venue and Media Centre. Opening hours of the Media Accreditation Office are as follows:

            Friday             28 March        09h00   --        19h00

            Saturday         29 March        09h00   --        19h00

            Sunday           30 March        15h00   --        19h00

            Monday          31 March        08h00   --        19h00

            Tuesday         1 April             08h00   --        19h00

            Wednesday   2 April             08h00   --        20h00

            Thursday        3 April             07h00   --        20h00

            Friday             4 April             07h00   --        12h00

 

Access to the Media Accreditation Office will be possible via shuttle bus from designated media hotels (see point 10 below) as well as via public transport or taxi cabs.

 

4. Venue

 

The meetings will take place at the Palace of Parliament, 2-4 Izvor Street, Sector 5, Bucharest.

 

The Media Centre will be located on-site, with a separate, dedicated entrance which will be via the Media Accreditation Office only (see above). Opening hours for the Media Centre will be as follows:

 

            Monday          31 March        08h00             19h00

            Tuesday         1 April             08h00             21h00

            Wednesday   2 April             08h00             end of operations

            Thursday        3 April             07h00             end of operations

            Friday             4 April             07h00             end of operations

            Saturday         5 April             07h00             12h00

 

5.      Security

Media Passes need to be worn visibly at all times and secondary identification may always be asked for by security personnel. 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 lead time to clear security checks.

6.      Press Conferences

Press conferences will be organised in facilities within the Media centre. Detailed maps will be provided in the Media Handbook distributed with the Media pass, and specific times will be announced via the closed-circuit TV system. National delegations will reserve space and time with the office of the NATO Media Coordinator; they are therefore best placed to provide the media with up-to-date information on press conferences.

The Romanian Authorities have made available 16 rooms designed for press conferences. They all include TV lighting and sound systems, including sound points for recording. The three largest rooms include interpretation facilities.

Access to press conferences is normally open to all accredited media without pool cards; delegations reserve the right to restrict access to their national media only.

7.      Television – Host Broadcaster

The Host TV broadcaster for the Summit is Romanian Television TVR. TVR will provide coverage of delegation arrivals, the opening sessions, official photographs, evening events and the main international news conferences. A complete international broadcasting centre and master control, with stand-up positions inside and outside as well as TV interview studios will be available.

Eurovision will provide comprehensive broadcast facilities, including stand-up positions for live programme inserts, tape playout, editing and distribution of the pool audio and video signals in un-equipped workspaces/TV editing booths.

Booking requests for stand-up positions, tape playout, editing studio time and/or use of a dedicated TV editing booth should be addressed to :

Mr. Lance Newhart

Eurovision Operations

European Broadcasting Union (EBU)

Telephone: +41.22.717.28.41

Mobile phone : +41.79.200.87.94

Fax: +41.22.747.48.40

email: newhart@eurovision.net.

Television broadcasters bringing bulky equipment are particularly urged to bring it into the Media centre prior to 12:00 on Wednesday 2^nd April 2008.

The Romanian Authorities have provided a point of contact with the Romanian Customs Office to facilitate the entry of any specific TV equipment to be used on site for this event.

 

Contact: Liviu Sorin Ipate

Direct Phone : +40.21.310.35.13

Phone: +4021.315.58.58

Fax: +4021.315.82.51

e-mail: sipate@customs.ro

 

 

The journalists from EU countries may come in and out the Romanian territory without having to pass the  customs procedures for their personal belongings or professional equipment.

 

 

 

For the journalists coming from non –EU countries, both their personal belongings (reasonably necessary for the trip) and those needed for their professional activities (sound, image and data supports, equipment meant for TV and radio production and broadcasting and the vehicles specially adapted for the above-mentioned purpose together with their related equipment) during the Summit are to be subject of customs procedures for temporary admission, with total exoneration from import owns. Having an ATA/CPD license for these goods is highly recommended.

 

8.      Radio – Host Broadcaster

The Host Radio Broadcaster for the Summit is Romanian Radio SRR. Radio studios, editing booths and sound distribution points will be available for radio media representatives on site. EBU Radio will deal with booking requests, provide signal and technical assistance as required. For EBU services, full specifications and rates, please contact :

 

Ms. Julia Lonicer

Radio News Co-ordinator

European Broadcasting Union

Telephone: +41.22.717.26.07

Mobile: 41.79.230.15.08

Fax : +41.22.747.46.07

Email: lonicer@ebu.ch

 

ISDN lines for radio transmissions will be available. ISDN lines will be in ‘Euro ISDN’ standard. Please check if you need a proper adaptor to use Euro ISDN lines.

 

9.      Uplink Trucks

Uplink trucks will be given access to the Media Centre. They will be allowed to enter the premises on dates and via a point of contact to be indicated in second media advisory in March 2008.

 

10. Accomodation

A list of 17 designated media hotels are at annex to this advisory. Taking into account both the potentially high-demand for accommodation in Bucharest during the NATO Summit meetings in Bucharest April 2-4, 2008 and the necessity to estimate the transportation needs, early reservations are welcome and strongly recommended (preferably until the date of February 15, 2008). The media and press representatives may choose to make their hotel reservations either by direct booking, following the standard operational procedures, or via Vacanta Travel Agency, the company the Romanian Authorities have entrusted as partner agency in making the accommodation arrangements for the delegations attending the NATO Summit meetings in Bucharest, Romania.

 

 

Vacanta Agency

35A Nicolae Balcescu Blvd, Bucharest

www.vacanta.net

Reservations: Toni Hristea

Phone/fax: + 4021 315 99 04

Mobile: + 40722.603.135

e-mail: summitnatoreservation@vacanta.net

 

For general travel information and search options for accommodation possibilities in Bucharest and other places in Romania throughout the year can be contacted also the National Association of Travel Agencies in Romania.

 

National Association of Travel Agencies in Romania

Asociatia Nationala a Agentiilor de Turism din Romania

www.anat.ro

Splaiul Unirii no. 16, district 4, Bucharest

Tel +4021/ 312.68.43 ; 312.08.02

Fax 021/ 312.19.08

E-mail:office@anat.ro

 

11.  Travel, Transport, Visa

A bus shuttle service will operate from the media designated hotels to the Media Accreditation Office / Media Centre according to a schedule to be announced in the first half of March 2008.

Also, Romanian authorities will provide transportation between the airport and the Accreditation Office for the journalists who wish to use it. The schedule will be announced in March 2008. When leaving Romania, those journalists traveling with commercial lines are recommended to ensure themselves that they will be at the airport at least two hours before the departure time.

Journalists coming from NATO countries – except Turkey – don’t need visa for entering Romania. Please check with the nearest Romanian Embassy or Consulate or Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website http://www.mae.ro regarding visa requirements. Media representatives should apply for a visa only after submitting an application for accreditation to the NATO Bucharest Summit. In order to avoid possible confusion, media representatives are asked to apply for a visa at least 10 days after submitting the accreditation application.

12.  Enquiries and Contact information

Mrs. Alina Coca

Romanian Media Operations

Romanian Task Force

Tel: +40.21.230.46.47

Fax: +40.21.231.48.42

Mobile: +40.722.304.580

Email: alina.coca@summitbucharest.ro

 

Mr. Damien Arnaud

NATO Media Operations

NATO IS Summit Task Force

Tel: +32.2.707.50.38

Fax: +32.2.707.50.57

Email: bucharest.summit@hq.nato.int