Note No. 5908

MEDIA ARRANGEMENTS FOR MAURITIUS MEETING ON SMALL ISLANDS, 10-14 JANUARY 2005

2/12/2004
Press Release
Note No. 5908

Note to Correspondents


MEDIA ARRANGEMENTS FOR MAURITIUS MEETING ON SMALLISLANDS, 10-14 JANUARY 2005


The International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Developing of Small Island Developing States will be held in Port Louis, Mauritius, from 10 to 14 January 2005.


Media Accreditation


Representatives of the mass media -- press, photo, radio, television and film -- will need to be accredited for the coverage of the Meeting.


Completed application form, together with a letter of assignment on official letterhead from the editor or bureau chief should be sent to (Pre-accreditation -- before 3 January 2005):  United Nations Office at Geneva, Information Service, Room C323, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland; Fax:  (+41) 22 917 00 73 or 917 00 31; email:  cfegli@unog.ch.


For on-site accreditation -- after 2 January 2005 -- the contact address, phone and fax will be published on the web site of the meeting.


No acknowledgement will be mailed to you.  If you have applied during pre-accreditation period, passes will be issued at the Meeting site upon presentation of two forms of photo ID (passport, official national press pass, driver’s licence, work ID).


If you are applying at the Meeting site for the first time, you should complete an application form, present a letter of assignment and two forms of photo ID.


NOTE:  Application forms will be considered only if accompanied by a letter of assignment.  Incomplete applications will not be processed.  Accreditation is free of charge.


Correspondents already possessing a valid United Nations grounds pass (United Nations Headquarters or United Nations Office at Geneva) will not need additional accreditation for the Meeting.


Each member of the press accompanying a head of State, head of government or head of delegation are also required to complete an application form for accreditation.  In these cases, the form must be attached to an official letter from the country concerned and should be addressed to the Chief of the Press and External Relations Section, United Nations Information Service, at the above address.  The letter must list the names of the media representatives with their functional titles and affiliation (i.e. news media organization).


After arrival in Port Louis, all members of the press corps accompanying the head of State, head of government or head of delegation must present themselves to the Accreditation Centre, where they will be issued a grounds pass upon presentation of a national passport or another valid photo ID.


For security reasons, each member of the press corps will be required to wear both the United Nations press pass and a national ID at all times.


The Media Accreditation Centre will be open from 4 to 14 January at the following hours:


-- 4, 5 and 6 January:  from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.


-- 7 January:  from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.


-- 8 and 9 January:  from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.


-- 10 and 11 January:  from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.


-- 12, 13 and 14 January:  from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.


Entry and Screening Procedures


All media personnel are advised to arrive early to allow sufficient time for screening.  Last-minute arrivals may encounter delays.  To avoid delay please send your application early during the pre-accreditation period.


Access to compound:  A photo ID or a pre-issued badge will be needed to reach the AccreditationBuilding.  Further access will require a United Nations media photo ID.  Only one type of badge will be issued to each media representative (no-NGO/Media or Delegation/Media co-badging is allowed).


Access to Meeting Room:  Access to meeting rooms will be by request to the United Nations Liaison Desk in the Media Centre and groups will be escorted to the meetings.


Media Centre


The United Nations will establish a Media Centre for the press corps in the lower level of the Meeting Centre.  It will provide the following services and assistance:


-- TV displays for each programme (plenary, press briefings, round tables).


-- Audio distribution boxes to record proceedings of the plenary and round tables in original language, French and English.  Journalists must bring their own adapters for XLR and 3.5mm mini jacks.


-- Telephone lines:  international commercial service and 900 MHz GSM (mobile) rental.


-- Electrical outlets:  220v/50Hz UK or continental plugs, to enable journalists to connect laptops and recorders.


-- Documents distribution, including press releases.


An information desk in the Media Centre will assist journalists with both substantive and organizational questions.


A snack area will be available in the Media Centre and restaurants will be open in other buildings of the meeting site.


Briefings for Journalists


Daily briefings for journalists will be held at 12 noon by the Spokesperson of the Meeting.  All briefings will take place in the Media Centre Briefing Room.


A pre-session briefing for journalists will be held on Friday, January 7, 2005 after the flag raising ceremony in the Media Centre Briefing Room.


Press Conferences and Interviews


Heads of State, government and delegation or senior United Nations officials will hold press conferences.  The location and list of the press conferences will be announced daily.


Interviews can be arranged in advance by calling the Office of the Spokesperson for the Meeting.  Arrangements may also be made through staff at the information desk.  Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) will provide studio facilities on a commercial basis.


Audio-Visual Services


As of 4 January 2005, audio feeds will be available with the Internet streaming service live and after the event.  The United Nations least developed country memberState journalists should apply early for assistance to lhinckley@un.org.


Betacam SP 625 and DVCam 625 for PAL use are the only formats available.  VHS duplication will not be provided, nor will NTSC in any format.  Duplication of conference materials after the event will be available from the United Nations visual materials library, approximately 8 weeks later.


The United Nations photo coverage will be available on-site from an FTP server and will be available after the conference from a United Nations FTP site.  Photo prints will not be made on site.


Listening:  Infrared headsets will be available in the press working area with all official United Nations languages from the Plenary.  Journalists who wish to record from these feeds must bring their own adapters (3.5mm jacks).


Pool Coverage


Owing to logistics and space considerations, all visual media coverage will be done by selected media pools.  As described above, video (PAL) and audio feeds of UNTV pool coverage will be available in the Media Centre press working area.  Video and audio feeds of press conferences will be available in the briefing room.  VIP press conferences will also have limited recording taps available.  Limited commercial duplication of brief segments of meeting coverage will be available.


Visual Coverage in the Meeting Room


Televisions crews and photographers will be escorted on the meeting floor before the start of the meeting.


United Nations Press Release Coverage


The United Nations will provide press release coverage in English and French of plenary meetings.  Press releases may be obtained at the Information Desk. 


Further queries concerning the distribution of press releases and other material should be directed to the Information Desk as well as information concerning daily developments, issues, background information on the Meeting, and related assistance.


Background Material


For information about negotiations and issues, suggestions for interviews and other related assistance, contact Marie Heuzé at the Office of the Spokesperson of the Meeting.


Official Web site of the Meeting


Information on all aspects of the Meeting can be found on the following Internet web site:  www.un.org/smallislands2005 or www.sidsmauritius2005.mu.  These web sites, which will be updated daily during the Meeting, contain news, practical information and statements related to the Meeting as well as information on accreditation procedures for representatives of the media.


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For information media. Not an official record.