OSCE Ministerial Council, Brussels (4-5/12) : last week for media to accredit

OSCE Ministerial Council, Brussels (4-5/12) : last week for media to accredit/technical information host-broadcaster

MEDIA ADVISORY TO EDITORS / NOT FOR PUBLICATION. OSCE Ministerial Council, Brussels (4-5/12) : last week for media to accredit/technical information host-broadcaster Brussels, 20/11/2006. The 14th Ministerial Council meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) will take place in Brussels, Belgium on 4 and 5 December 2006, at the invitation of the Chairman-in-Office, Belgian Foreign Minister, Karel De Gucht. 1.Media Accreditation. The deadline for applying for a media accreditation badge is Friday 24 November 2006. As security will be very strict, advance accreditation for media representatives is highly advisable and will require the completed form to be submitted with a digital photograph of the applicant by e-mail. Full details of accreditation procedures and information on accommodation, visa formalities and press facilities are available on the OSCE Ministerial Council website http://www.osce.org/conferences/mc_2006.html Please note that journalists accredited to the OSCE in Vienna or in any other OSCE locations still need special accreditation for the Ministerial Council. Media representatives are expected to collect their OSCE Ministerial Council accreditation badges in person by presenting a valid passport, either: At the Media accreditation Desk at the International Press Centre (Residence Palace) Rue de la Loi / Wetstraat, 155 - 1040 Brussels (Metro Schuman) Friday 1 December 2006 (11.00-17.00) only Or At the Media Accreditation Desk of the Press Centre at the Brussels Exhibition Centre (Heysel/Heizel, Hall 11) Saturday 2 December 2006 (11.00-17.00) Sunday 3 December 2006 (09.00-20.00) Monday 4 December 2006 (06.30-20.00) Tuesday 5 December 2006 (07.30-12.00) To gain access to the Media Accreditation Desk (Hall 11), media representatives must first present a valid passport at the security checkpoint located outside the secured area. 2. The Press Centre The Press Centre at the Brussels Exhibition Centre (Heysel/Heizel) is located in Hall 11. Access to the Press Centre will be via Parking E-Esplanade (Entrance D1). The working areas of the Press Centre will be open for the media from 12.00 noon on Sunday 3 December 2006, and then at the times shown below. Sunday 3 December 2006, from 12.00 – 23.00 continuously Monday 4 December 2006, from 06.30 – 23.00 continuously Tuesday 5 December 2006, from 06.30 – 17.00 continuously The Brussels Exhibition Centre offers all the facilities required for media coverage of the 14th OSCE Ministerial Council. Media representatives will be provided with a working area as well as 20 separate offices for radio, TV and news agencies (cubicles which must be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis), an IT support Desk and lockers. The media working area at the Brussels Exhibition Centre comprises 50 desktop computers, 150 laptop computer outlets, a wireless zone, printing, copying and other facilities. Telephone, fax services and high speed Internet access will be provided at all times free of charge. Since space inside the Brussels Exhibition Centre is limited and restricted, media access to certain events will be arranged on a pool basis. In order to respect the timing of the Ministerial Council and to offer the better work conditions possible to the press, media will have the possibility to subscribe for one or more pools in advance. This will confine access to media in possession of both a pool card for that specific event and their OSCE Ministerial Council media accreditation badge. Each pool card is valid for one person only and for one event. More information on the Media programme and on the subscription for the pools (for photographers and TV only) will be sent to the accredited journalists and will be made available on the 14th OSCE Ministerial Council web site ( section Media Info). http://www.osce.org/conferences/mc_2006.html Throughout the conference, a Closed Circuit TV network will broadcast the plenary sessions in the Press Centre and information will also be disseminated to the media via CCTV. Other TV monitors, showing various news channels and networks, will also be available. In addition, a website for the 14th OSCE Ministerial Council will be regularly updated with incoming information about the Ministerial Council. http://www.osce.org/conferences/mc_2006.html 3. Host-broadcaster RTBF (Radio-télévision belge de la Communauté française de Belgique/Radio-television of the Belgian French-speaking community) will act as Host-broadcaster and provide technical support for radio and television networks requesting it. A technical note detailing the media facilities, workspace, parking and technical requirements for radio and televisions offered by the host-broadcaster during the 14th OSCE Ministerial Council is available on the site http://www.osce.org/conferences/mc_2006.html?page=20168 (see Media resources for TV/Radio) Interested radio and television networks are invited to transmit their technical request application form before 25/11/2006 by fax or by e-mail to Sixte Grignard, RTBF International Relations (e-mail : Eurovision@rtbf.be; fax : +32 2 737 4210: tel. +32 2 737 2528; Mobile : +32 2 476 40 39 37) Parking is available for broadcasting vans and satellite vehicles in a special car park within the security zone (via Parking E, Esplanade-Entrance D1). Vehicles must be accredited and bomb-checked before entering. The Host- broadcaster will manage and allocate parking places but advance booking is essential as only a limited number of positions is available. Cars and vans that leave the security zone will have to be bomb checked each time before being allowed back into the security zone 4. Transport and parking facilities There is a Metro Station (Heysel/Heizel) near the Brussels Exhibition Centre. Accredited journalists will receive a free Metro Pass. How to get there by Metro/subway: Line 1A towards Roi Baudouin/Koning Boudewijn. Get out at station Heysel/Heizel. Walking time to Hall 11 is about 3 minutes. Journey time by Metro from the city centre (station De Brouckère) to the Heysel/Heizel station is about 20 minutes. Parking spaces and taxi drop-off point Media representatives travelling to Brussels by car will have very limited parking facilities (Parking E- Esplanade) at the Brussels Exhibition Centre. Members of the press arriving by taxi should tell their drivers they can be dropped off across from the Press Centre via Entrance D1 (via Parking E Esplanade). 5. Reception The Mayor of Brussels, Mr Freddy Thielemans, will host a reception for the media representatives on Monday, 4 December 2006 at 20.00 in the Town Hall, Grand Place Market Square. Access to the reception will be limited to media representatives in possession of an accreditation badge. 6. For further information, please consult the 14th OSCE Ministerial Council website ( section Media Info). http://www.osce.org/conferences/mc_2006.html