PR 150408 E

 Media Advisory

NATO Parliamentary Assembly

15 April 2008                                                                                                                                                             For immediate release

NATO PA SPRING SESSION TO BE HELD IN

BERLIN, GERMANY

23-27 May 2008

The German Parliament will host the NATO Parliamentary Assembly's Spring Session, bringing together some 340 parliamentarians from North America and Europe, from 23 to 27 May 2008 in Berlin.

The Plenary session on Tuesday 27 May will be addressed by NATO PA's President, José LELLO, NATO Secretary General, Jaap DE HOOP SCHEFFER, Supreme Allied Commander Europe John Craddock, and other high ranking officials.

NATO PA's five committees (Political, Defence and Security, Science and Technology, Civil Dimension of Security, Economics and Security) will meet on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 May to discuss Reports focusing on the most important security questions of the moment. Guest speakers will address the Committees.

Programme FOR THE MEDIA

A programme for the media is in progress and will be available on the NATO PA website shortly. It will be regularly updated as guest speakers confirm their participation.

Press BRIEFING

Friday 23 May at 10:00 (time to be confirmed), 2M001, SECOND FLOOR, Reichstag Building

            José LELLO (Portugal), NATO PA President; Karl A LAMERS, Head of the German Delegation to the NATO PA; David HOBBS, NATO PA Secretary General, Andrea CELLINO, Deputy to the Secretary General for Partnerships and External Relations

Media accreditation

http://www.nato-pa.int/Default.asp?SHORTCUT=1373

MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES IN GERMANY OR ABROAD WHO WISH TO COVER THE SESSION MEETINGS SHOULD COMPLETE THE REQUEST FOR ACCREDITATION FORM AND SEND IT TO:

Claus Hinterleitner, Presse und Kommunikation 1
Deutscher Bundestag
Phone:  + 49 (0) 30 227 35570
Fax: +49 (0) 30 227 36153
E-mail: claus.hinterleitner@bundestag.de

Verwaltung - Platz der Republik 1
11011 Berlin

GENERAL INFORMATION

SESSION VENUE

Deutscher Bundestag (Reichstagsgebäude)

Platz der Republik 1

11011 Berlin

The committee meetings will be held on levels 2 and 3, and the plenary session on level 1 of the Reichstag building from 23 to 27 May 2008. Access to the Reichstag building is via the East entrance (Friedrich-Ebert-Platz). All participants will be submitted to security controls.

CUSTOMS PROCEDURES

A valid passport is required to enter Germany, except for nationals of EU countries who may enter Germany with a valid national ID card.  Nationals of the following countries require a visa:

Information can also be obtained on the homepage of the German Federal Foreign Office :http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/diplo/de/Startseite.html

To be certain of current visa and passport requirements, participants should contact their respective German Embassy.

RECEPTION DESK

The press registration area, will be located on the ground floor of the Reichstag building on Friday 23 May from 10:00 to 17.30, Saturday 24 May from 7.30 to 18.00 and for the duration of the session, half an hour prior to the meeting times. 

All members of the press are requested to register at the Press Accreditation desk as soon as possible after their arrival in Berlin. They will be given their identity badge and the session handbook.

Access to the Reichstag building will be given only upon presentation of a Press badge or photographic identification (a passport or identity card).

SECURITY

For security reasons, all participants, will be required to wear their identity badges at all meetings and social functions, as well as for all transport organised for the session.

All participants must carry some official photo identification (i.e. passport or identity card) at all times, in case the security services perform an identity check.

OTHER SERVICES

An Information desk will be available to participants at the Reichstag building.  Tourist information, first aid services, cash machines, an Internet café and self-check-in for Lufthansa and Air Berlin will also be available during the session.  Further information regarding these and other services will be included in the session handbook.

WEATHER

             Temperatures can vary during the month of May from 15°C to 20°C. 

SERVICES TO THE PRESS

ENQUIRIES REGARDING SERVICES TO THE PRESS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO:

Claus Hinterleitner, Presse und Kommunikation 1
Deutscher Bundestag
Phone:  + 49 (0) 30 227 35570
Fax: + 49 (0) 30 227 36153
E-mail: claus.hinterleitner@bundestag.de

NATO PA PRESS AND INFORMATION SERVICE

ENQUIRIES CONCERNING THE NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO:

Roberta Calorio, Media Relations Officer

NATO PA Press and Media Relations Service
Direct  Phone : + 32 2 50 48 154
Fax : + 32 2 513 59 23
e-mail : rcalorio@nato-pa.int
Place du Petit Sablon 3, B - 1000 BRUSSELS
Switchboard: + 32 (0) 2 513 28 65
website: http:// www.nato-pa.int

News and information on the Session is routinely placed on the NATO PA website.

Check http://www.nato-pa.int/default.asp?SHORTCUT=1368