[WSIS CS-Plenary] Information for Participants

Robert Guerra rguerra at lists.privaterra.org
Thu Jan 20 06:24:11 GMT 2005 

Converted from the .DOC file TO ASCII

Original document @ 
http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents/listing.asp?lang=en?&c_event=pc2|2&c_type=a|

	Document WSIS-II/PC-2/ADM/1-E
	6 January 2005
	Original: English

WSIS Executive Secretariat
INFORMATION FOR PARTICIPANTS
Tunis phase of WSIS, PrepCom-2, 17-25 February 2005, Geneva

1	Venue

The second meeting of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom-2) of the 
Tunis phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 
will be held at the Palais des Nations, ³Salle de l¹Assemblée² , 3rd 
floor, building A, Place des Nations, 1211 Geneva 10, from 17-25 
February 2005.

2	Participation

The WSIS PrepCom-2 meeting is open to:
i)	Representatives of States;
ii)	Observers representatives of:

€	Entities and organizations having received a standing 
invitation to participate as observers in the sessions and work of 
the United Nations General Assembly;
€	UN specialized agencies and other invited intergovernmental 
organizations;
€	UN Secretariat and organs;
€	Associate Members of Regional Commissions;
€	Accredited civil society entities (including NGOs);
€	Accredited business sector entities (including ITU Sector Members).

Accredited media and press representatives will also have access to 
the premises.

3	Accreditation process for non-governmental organizations, 
civil society and business sector entities

Information concerning the accreditation arrangements for 
participation of non-governmental organizations, civil society and 
business entities is available on the WSIS website at: 
http://www.itu.int/wsis/participation/accreditation/index.html

4	Fellowships for LDC participants and civil society representatives

At PrepCom-2, a limited number of fellowships will be available to 
government representatives from developing countries (with special 
emphasis on least developed countries, LDCs) as well as for 
representatives from civil society. Information concerning the 
conditions and procedures for these fellowships is available on the 
WSIS website at: http://www.itu.int/wsis/preparatory2/pc2/index.html

5	Press

Accreditation to the WSIS PrepCom-2 meeting is required in order to 
obtain a press badge and thereby gain admission to the meeting. Media 
accreditation will open on 15 December. The procedure for media 
accreditation along with the form to complete can be found at 
http://www.itu.int/newsroom/accredit/wsis/procedure.html. Media 
information on the meeting will be available at 
http://www.itu.int/wsis/newsroom/2/pc2/ from early February.

Media badges for PrepCom-2 will be available from 16 February 2005, 
08:30 at the WSIS Media accreditation desk of the Montbrillant 
Building of ITU Headquarters . Please note that the confirmation 
letter sent upon acceptance of media accreditation should be 
presented at the desk together with one form of photo identification, 
in order to receive WSIS Media badges.

6	Provisional timetable

The provisional timetable of PrepCom-2 will be published in due 
course on the WSIS website at: 
http://www.itu.int/wsis/preparatory2/pc2/index.html

7	Working hours
Business hours are as follows:  17-18 & 21-25 February: 10:00-13:00 & 
15:00-18:00

8	Swiss entry visas

Participants requiring a visa in order to enter Switzerland are 
reminded that they must obtain the visa before travelling to 
Switzerland. Persons from countries in which Switzerland is not 
represented (by an Embassy or Consulate) must obtain their visas in a 
third country.

The Swiss authorities have introduced new measures concerning visas. 
Visas are no longer issued at the airport, other than in exceptional 
circumstances to persons from countries in which Switzerland has no 
representation (Embassy or Consulate), and then solely on 
presentation of documentary evidence, such as a mission order from 
their administration or an official letter of invitation, to the 
effect that the person concerned is attending a meeting organized 
under the auspices of ITU.

Visa support

The ITU Secretariat can assist participants who have difficulty in 
obtaining a visa. An official request signed by the responsible 
person of the entity to be represented should be submitted to the ITU 
Secretariat (fax No. +41 22 730 6443) providing applicant details as 
follows:
€	PrepCom-2 ID Number
€	First name, Last name
€	Date of birth
€	Passport number, date of issue, date of expiry

Requests must be submitted on official headed paper, must be signed 
and stamped by the entity to be represented, and must be accompanied 
by a copy of the national passport of the applicant. Your request 
will be processed subject to receipt of the above-mentioned 
information, at least 15 days before departure.

Neither ITU nor the WSIS Executive Secretariat can intervene to 
assist with requests to have entry visas to Switzerland issued at the 
airport.

9	Registration
Pre-registration is strongly advised in order to avoid delays upon 
arrival at the meeting.

Advance registration
Registration for PrepCom-2 will begin on 5 January 2005. Participants 
should be registered on-line at 
http://www.itu.int/wsis/preparatory2/pc2/index.html  by Designated 
Focal Points for participation in the WSIS preparatory process and 
the Summit. A username and password is required to access the on-line 
system, which will be provided in due course by the Secretariat to 
your Focal Point.
On-site registration and badging

The registration and badging desk will be located at the ITU 
Montbrillant building  and will be open at the following times:
Monday-Friday, 14-18 & 21-25 February 2005	0900 to 1300 and 1400 
to 1800 hours

Pre-registered persons are requested to proceed to the registration 
desk and present an official identity document (e.g. passport or 
driving license) to obtain their badge.
Persons who have not registered before the event should proceed to 
the registration desk where they will be required to produce 
documentary evidence attesting to their employer (name of 
Administration or provisionally accredited entity/organization they 
are representing and its address) in order to obtain their badge. A 
special registration desk will be reserved for accredited media 
representatives.

The PrepCom-2 badge will also provide access to the open Plenary 
Meeting of the Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG), scheduled 
for Monday, 14 February 1100 to 1300 hours and to the Open 
Consultations of the WGIG, scheduled for Tuesday/Wednesday 15 and 16 
February 1000 to 1300 and 1500 to 1800 hours .
Please refer to section 5 for information on media participation.

There is no registration fee for PrepCom-2. Airfare, hotel and 
miscellaneous expenses shall be borne by the participant.
Access to UNOG (Palais des Nations)

All participants need an official badge and personal identity 
document with photo to enter the Palais des Nations.
Participants without hand luggage may access the building through the 
Place des Nations and Pregny gates. Participants carrying hand 
luggage (briefcases, laptops) may access the building through the 
Pregny gate only. Suitcases are not permitted.

10	Documentation

Official documents for PrepCom-2 will be available in Arabic, 
Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
The provisional agenda and official documents will be available on 
the WSIS website at: 
http://www.itu.int/wsis/preparatory2/pc2/index.html
Upon registration, the Document Distribution Service will provide 
each participant with a complete set of documents. Further 
documentation will be made available in the meeting room(s).

11	Interpretation
Simultaneous interpretation will be available in Arabic, Chinese, 
English, French, Russian and Spanish in the plenary and sub-committee 
meetings. Interpretation in French, English and Spanish is available 
for major civil society meetings.

12	Seating arrangements
Seating will follow the UN practice. Each State will have two seats 
at table and two seats behind in the plenary hall of the meeting. 
Observers will have one seat each. Additional free seating will be 
available at the back of the room and on the balcony. Seating in the 
plenary and other meeting room(s) will be in the English alphabetical 
order.

13	Meeting room reservations
If you wish to reserve a meeting room in the Palais des Nations, 
please contact Ms Danièle Boccard (e-mail : daniele.boccard at itu.int).

14	Cloakroom facility
A self-service cloakroom is available at the entrance of the ³Salle 
de l¹Assemblée² , building A, of the Palais de Nations. The area is 
not monitored and neither the UN, the ITU nor the WSIS Executive 
Secretariat can be held responsible for any loss or theft, which may 
occur.

15	Hotel room reservations
Participants are expected to make their own accommodation 
arrangements. A list of hotels in Geneva and the surrounding area 
that accord special rates to participants of UN meetings is available 
at the WSIS website at: http://www.itu.int/wsis/practical/travel.html

16	Climate
The climate in Geneva in February is cold, with daytime temperature 
averaging around 0 ­ 8º C.

17 	Electrical appliances

The electrical current in Switzerland is 220 V/50 Hz.

18	Public transport
To call a taxi, dial 022 33 141 33. Buses 5, 8, 11, 14, 18, 28, F, V 
and Z stop at Place des Nations, as well as trams 13 and 15. Tickets 
must be bought at the bus and tram stops (correct change only) before 
boarding the bus or tram. A standard ticket for the Geneva city area 
costs 3.00 Swiss francs. Weekly passes valid for buses, trams, boat 
taxis (mouettes) and regional trains are available. Buses 18 and 28 
connect to the airport from the Place des Nations. For more 
information, see: 
http://www.tpg.ch/Internet+TPG/Anglais/EHomepage/Accueil.htm 
Trains are available from Cornavin station, connected by buses 5, 11, 
8, F, V and Z as well as Trams 13 and 15. The closest train station 
is Sécheron, next to WMO and Jardin Botanique from where Regional 
trains run to Cornavin and Nyon. For more information: 
http://www.sbb.ch/en/

19	Parking
Parking restrictions are in force in the streets adjacent to the 
Palais des Nations. To avoid fines, participants are advised to 
respect these restrictions, particularly in the area adjacent to the 
Palais des Nations main entrance. Limited parking facilities will be 
made available in the surrounding area and places will be allocated 
on a first come, first served basis.

20	Banking
Two UBS banks are located in the Palais des Nations: 1) door 6, 
building S: open from Monday to Friday 8.30-16.30; 2) door 41, 
building E, open: 8.30-2.30 and 13.30-16.30. For more information, 
see: http://www.itu.int/wsis/docs2/pc2/venue.html

21	Post office
The post office is located at Door 6, building S. Only UN stamps may 
be used here. Opening hours: 8.30-17.00. For more information, see: 
http://www.itu.int/wsis/docs2/pc2/venue.html

22	Cafés and Restaurants
For information on the cafes, bars and restaurants in the Palais des 
Nations, see: http://www.itu.int/wsis/docs2/pc2/venue.html 


                                          

-- 
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Robert Guerra <rguerra at privaterra.org>
Privaterra - <http://www.privaterra.org>

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