The General Assembly, by its resolution 53/202 of 17 December 1998, decided to designate the fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly “The Millennium Assembly of the United Nations”, and to convene, as an integral part of the Millennium Assembly, a Millennium Summit of the United Nations.
By its resolutions 53/239 of 8 June 1999, 54/254 of 15 March 2000 and 54/261 of 10 May 2000, the General Assembly further decided that the Millennium Summit would be held from 6 to 8 September 2000 in New York, under the overall theme “The role of the United Nations in the twenty-first century”.

II. Information for participants

A. Dates and venue

The Millennium Summit of the United Nations, composed of plenary meetings and four round tables, will be held from Wednesday, 6 September, to Friday, 8 September 2000 at United Nations Headquarters. The plenary meetings will be held in the General Assembly Hall and the round tables will be held in the Economic and Social Council Chamber.

B. Arrivals and departures

Port of entry arrangements: Heads of State and Government and Vice-Presidents and Crown Princes will be greeted at the time of their arrival to New York by the United Nations Chief of Protocol or other senior United Nations officials. Governments, through their permanent missions, are responsible for compliance with all host country requirements with regard to entry formalities and for provision of all transport, transit and accommodation arrangements, in coordination with the United Nations Security and Safety Service and host country and host city authorities.

Procedures at United Nations Headquarters for the period from 6 to 8 September 2000: Following past practice, the authorities of the United States of America will provide transportation (one vehicle) and security protection to Heads of State and Government and some chairmen of delegations during their stay in New York. Regardless of the size of the motorcade, only two vehicles, the car with security plus the car with the principal, will be allowed to enter the United Nations through the 43rd Street gate and to discharge their passengers at the Delegates’ Entrance to the General Assembly Building. The remaining vehicles in the motorcade will discharge their passengers further down First Avenue or in front of the visitors’ gate to the United Nations (First Avenue and 46th Street).

A provisional schedule of arrival to the Headquarters for each morning of the Millennium Summit, based on security considerations will be prepared. Delegations will be notified of this schedule individually at a later date.

Departures of Heads of State and Government from Headquarters will be carried out in accordance with the following procedure: a “motorcade desk”, staffed by one Protocol and one United Nations Security Officer and a United States Secret Service officer will be set up on the first floor (near the Delegates’ Entrance). Delegations wishing to depart must contact the motorcades desk personnel, who will then summon the vehicles and inform the delegation of their arrival.

Strict adherence to the following requirements will ensure the timely and secure arrival of all parties:

(a) All persons in motorcades MUST have a valid United Nations photo identification in order to be permitted to pass through various security checks and enter the Headquarters Building;

(b) Heads of State and Government, members of their parties and other delegations or observers or individual members of such delegations willing to come to the United Nations on foot from nearby locations are encouraged to do so. Time will be saved and possible delays avoided;

(c) With the exception of motorcades accompanied by police and/or Secret Service, any delegation arriving at the United Nations by car will need a special vehicle permit to enter the complex. These permits will be available through the Security and Safety Service. A security briefing for all delegations will be held on 23 August at 10 a.m. in Conference Room 1.

C. Registration and accreditation

Registration and accreditation of official delegations and members of the parties of Heads of State and Government will be carried out by the Protocol and Liaison Service. Authorized applications for passes will be processed by the United Nations Pass and Identification Office, located in the UNITAR Building, 801 First Avenue (north-west corner of 45th Street). Its office hours will be:

Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed 1 to 2 p.m.

For media accreditation, please see paragraphs 40 to 47 of the present note.

D. Security arrangements

Access to the United Nations complex and its surrounding area will be strictly limited, as will access to areas within the United Nations complex, as noted below. The Headquarters complex will be closed to the public from 2 to 8 September. The security arrangements are described below.

Security responsibilities

Security responsibility for the Millennium Summit is the same as that for any other activity at the United Nations: the United Nations Security and Safety Service is responsible for the security of everyone while they are on United Nations premises; the host country and host city authorities are responsible for all arrangements relating to security and movement outside United Nations Headquarters, as is standard for official visits.

Protection is provided by host country security authorities to Heads of State and Government, as well as to a limited number of other government officials, by the assignment of protection detail personnel. Arrangements for such assignments are initiated by the embassies of the relevant countries, in Washington D.C., with the United States Department of State. In the case of Heads of State and Government, the respective embassies should contact the United States State Department, if they have not already done so.

Governments whose Head of State and Government is attending the Millennium Summit may wish to have direct consultations with the United Nations Security and Safety Service, particularly with regard to accreditation of national security details.

Any question should be directed to the Chief of the United Nations Security and Safety Service, Michael McCann (963-7525), or to the Assistant Chief, Joseph Martella (963-6150). The Millennium Summit security planning team is located in room GA-100 (963-0368/0369).

Access to and within the United Nations during the Millennium Summit

Access to the United Nations complex during the Millennium Summit will be restricted to those persons who are properly accredited and who are wearing a United Nations grounds pass. For all government delegations (Member States or observers), these grounds passes will be issued at the Accreditation Centre located at 801 First Avenue. For grounds passes for national security officers accompanying the Heads of State or Government, please contact Jacob Chacko, Security and Safety Service (963-9346). (See attached sample of request for grounds pass for security staff, annex III).

It must be emphasized that access to the United Nations will be denied to anyone not wearing a valid grounds pass. This is necessary for security reasons, given the risks implicit in a gathering of so many national leaders. To avoid last minute difficulties, all Governments are requested to ensure the proper accreditation of their delegations and accompanying parties.

Within the United Nations complex, there will be certain further restrictions on movements. A restricted area has been designated encompassing the General Assembly Building and the entire second floor of the Conference Building. Controls over access to restricted areas will be enforced by the Security and Safety Service.

Three message centres will be set up in order to resolve problems raised by the tight controls on access. One centre will be located within the restricted area in the east foyer on the second floor of the General Assembly Building, another will be located in the information booth in the Public Lobby of the General Assembly Building and the third will be in the Pass Office located in the FF Building, 304 East 45th Street. All three message centres will be staffed by the Secretariat to ensure the smooth movement of messages into and out of the General Assembly Hall and the restricted area.

Briefings

The United Nations Security and Safety Service will continue to schedule individual briefings, as necessary, regarding general security arrangements. A security briefing for all delegations is scheduled for 23 August at 10 a.m. in Conference Room 1.

E. Participation in the meeting

List of speakers, speeches, documentation and interpretation

In accordance with General Assembly resolutions 54/254 and 54/261, six plenary meetings will be held over the three-day period, with two meetings per day according to the following schedule: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Owing to the unique symbolic moment of the Millennium Summit, representatives of the country of the President of the fifty-fourth session of the General Assembly and the country of the President of the fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly will jointly preside over the Summit.

Participants at the Summit will include Member States, the Observer States, the Holy See and Switzerland, as well as Palestine, in its capacity as observer.

In order to accommodate all speakers at the Summit, statements should not exceed five minutes, on the understanding that that will not preclude the distribution of more extensive texts. To facilitate the observance of the time limit, a light system installed on the lectern will signal the approach of the five-minute limit.

Only official documents of the Millennium Summit bearing the General Assembly document symbol and texts of statements to be delivered in plenary meetings will be distributed in the General Assembly Hall.

Also under resolutions 54/254 and 54/261, the Millennium Summit will hold four interactive round-table sessions, according to the following schedule:

Wednesday, 6 September 2000, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.;

Thursday, 7 September 2000, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.;

Friday, 8 September 2000, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The four round tables will be held in the Economic and Social Council Chamber and will be chaired by a Head of State or Government. Member States are encouraged to be represented at the round tables at the level of Heads of State or Government.

The Chairperson of each round table will be determined by the regional groups, in consultation with the President of the General Assembly. Each regional group will determine which of its members will participate in each round table.

Other organizational matters concerning the round tables are subject to further consultations.

The list of speakers for the Millennium Summit was established by a drawing of lots.

F. Arrangements for bilateral meetings

1. Facilities

As requested in General Assembly resolution 49/221 D of 23 December 1994, improved and expanded facilities for bilateral meetings and contacts among Member States will be available during the Millennium Summit. Twenty-eight suitably appointed temporary booths, each furnished with eight chairs, will be available on the first and third floors of the General Assembly Building for such consultations. During the period starting on Monday, 11 September, until Friday, 22 September, the end of the General Debate, the number of booths will be reduced.

2. Reservation system

Within the designated bilateral meeting areas, a reservation system has been instituted in order to provide equitable and efficient use of the facilities.

A room reservation form (see annex II) has already been distributed to all permanent and observer missions for this purpose. Missions are kindly requested to use one form listing all bilateral meetings requested and to forward it to Aurora Szekielda, Meetings Servicing Unit (room 1B-2, fax. 963-9284). This written request should specify the date, time and exact duration of each meeting and should include the name of the other delegation participating in the bilateral meeting. Owing to the security arrangements during the Millennium Summit, access to the bilateral meeting areas will be limited to delegates in possession of General Assembly Hall or restricted area passes. Venues for photo opportunities in connection with bilateral meetings will be available on the first and third floors of the General Assembly Building, close to the temporary meeting rooms.

Oral confirmation of the availability of space will be given shortly after receipt of each request and information on room assignments will be provided one day prior to the meeting. Depending on the programme, every effort will be made to keep a delegation’s appointments in the same room.

G. Treaty signature/ratification event

It is recalled that the Secretary-General, in a letter dated 15 May 2000, invited Heads of State and Government, during the Millennium Summit, to consider signing and notifying or acceding to multilateral treaties deposited with him. In this regard, he offered to provide special facilities for that purpose during the Millennium Summit.

The treaty signature/ratification event will take place from 6 to 8 September in a private area near the Delegates’ Entrance to the right of the escalator. A special platform within that area will be provided for press and television crews. It is recalled that Member States are required to express their intentions regarding signature and ratification or accession by 1 August so that timing preferences may be accommodated as equitably as possible. Appointments for signature, ratification or accession during the Millennium Summit should be arranged well in advance with the Treaty Section. Should the Permanent Missions require further information or wish to arrange appointments for signature, ratification or accession of Treaties during the Millennium Summit, they may contact the Treaty Section (963-5047).

H. Official luncheon

There will be an official luncheon hosted by the Secretary-General in the North Delegates’ Lounge on Wednesday, 6 September at 1.15 p.m. Invitations will be issued for this event.

I. Programme for spouses

There will be three social events hosted by Nane Annan in honour of the spouses of Heads of State and Government participating in the Millennium Summit: a luncheon on Wednesday, 6 September; a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Thursday, 7 September; and a final luncheon on Friday, 8 September 2000.

On Thursday, 7 September 2000, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will hold an interactive forum on girls’ education, at which Mrs. Annan will be the honorary chairperson. Spouses of Heads of State and Government are invited to participate. For further information on this event, contact Mary Pigozzi, Senior Education Adviser, UNICEF (telephone 824-6618). Details of further arrangements will be provided at a later date.

It is necessary for the Chief of Protocol to be notified, at the earliest convenience of the Permanent Representatives and Observers, of the presence of spouses of Heads of State and Government in New York in order to proceed with the appropriate invitations.

J. Group photograph

An official group photograph of the Heads of State and Government and heads of delegations who are to speak at the Millennium Summit has been scheduled for Wednesday, 6 September 2000, at 2.30 p.m., immediately following the official luncheon, in the Trusteeship Council Chamber.

For the group photograph, the position of each Head of State and Government and each head of delegation will be pre-arranged. Place cards indicating the exact position of each representative for the official group photograph will be forwarded to each delegation in due time.

The photograph is restricted to Heads of State and Government and heads of delegations who are scheduled to speak during the Millennium Summit. Access to the Trusteeship Council Chamber during this event will be restricted to the participants in the group photo. While access to other events may be authorized for interpreters and security personnel, no exceptions will be made for the group photograph. No flash photography will be permitted, except by the designated photographers of the group photo.

K. Media arrangements and services

Accreditation

Until Friday, 25 August 2000, media representatives can receive accreditation at the following location:

UNITAR Building, 801 First Avenue (north-west corner of 45th Street)

Open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4.45 p.m.; closed 1 to 2 p.m.

FF Building, 305 East 45th Street

Open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed 1 to 2 p.m.

Saturday, 2 September -- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, 3 September -- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday, 4 September (holiday) -- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday, 5 September -- 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday, 6 September -- 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday, 7 September -- 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday, 8 September -- 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.

Chief, Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit
News and Media Division
Department of Public Information (DPI), United Nations

The designated press entrances for the Millennium Summit are as follows:

All media representatives will be required to present a valid United Nations grounds pass to the United Nations security officers at the gate.

All media personnel are advised to arrive early to allow sufficient time for screening. Last-minute arrivals will encounter delays, and may be further delayed should First Avenue be temporarily closed for motorcades.

Media Centre and other facilities

The facilities available to the press on the third floor of the Secretariat Building will include telephone, fax, and Internet access at commercial rates. The Ex Press Bar on the third floor of the General Assembly building will serve as an overflow area for the press corps, in particular for the official photographers and cameramen waiting to enter the booth assigned to them on a rotation basis. These locations will also be equipped with electrical outlets and a television monitor showing the proceedings in the Plenary Hall.

• Television sets carrying live proceedings of the plenary meetings of the Summit on closed circuit television in English;
  
• Video distribution in NTSC and PAL Video standards will be available; media organizations must provide their own video recording decks (most camera equipment cannot accept video inputs);
  
• Audio distribution to record official proceedings will be available, with provision for language selection, including “floor” audio and interpretation into the six official languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish);
  
• Paging system for general announcements to the media;
  
• Telephone lines (credit cards required) and 110 volt electrical outlets; journalists using their own laptops must provide their own modems;
  
• Computers with Internet access;
  
• Documents distribution (including press releases).

Media Centre
Telephone: (212) 963-9611/ -9612/ -9613

Photographs, videotapes and audiocassettes are available from the United Nations. During the Millennium Summit, the offices providing these services will open at 9 a.m.
Photographs will be available to delegations for a nominal fee and to accredited correspondents free of charge. Photographs of morning speeches will be available during the afternoon of the same day; photos of the afternoon speeches on the morning of the following day. Please direct photo inquiries and requests to:

United Nations Photo Library
Room S-805-L
Telephone: (212) 963-6927
Fax: (212) 963-1658

United Nations Television
Telephone: (212) 963-7652
Fax: (212) 963-3860

United Nations Television
Telephone: (212) 963-7650
Fax: (212) 963-3860

United Nations Audio Library
(Located on the first basement concourse level 1-B, in room GA-27)
Telephone: (212) 963-9272 / -9269
Fax: (212) 963-3860

Sound Recording Unit
Room GA-13-C
Telephone: (212) 963-7658

Owing to logistics and space considerations, nearly all visual media coverage will be done by selected media pools. The pools are reserved exclusively for United Nations Television, United Nations photographers, international wire services and photo agencies. In the case of print media, the United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) will notify the Department of Public Information of its representative.

The official press corps accompanying a Head of State or Government or head of delegation, including the official photographer, will not be permitted to participate in these pools. The one exception will be the luncheon in which their Head of State or Government or head of delegation participates, in which case the official photographer will be allowed to join the pool. In all instances, Department of Public Information liaison staff will accompany media pools.

Telephone: (212) 963-6934
Fax: (212) 963-4642

Official photographers and television crews will have an opportunity to cover the speech of their Head of State or Government or head of delegation on a rotating basis from the press booths surrounding the General Assembly Hall. Owing to space limitations, they may not remain to cover other speeches. A limited number of still photographers, escorted by Department of Public Information liaison staff, will also be allowed to take photographs from the bridge at the back of the General Assembly Hall during the speech. These operations will be coordinated from the third floor liaison desk in the General Assembly building.