Media Advisory

MEDIA ADVISORY

The 1^st ASEM Transport Ministers' Meeting

Asia-Europe Transport Development Forum

Ministerial Meeting "Rail Baltica"

19-20 October, 2009

Vilnius, Lithuania

1. Venues

The 1^st ASEM Transport Ministers' Meeting will take place at the Conference Centre of "Reval Hotel Lietuva" (Konstitucijos av. 20, Vilnius).

Asia-Europe Transport Development Forum and Ministerial Meeting "Rail Baltica" as well as European Intermodal Transport Award Ceremony will be held at the Conference Centre of the hotel "Crowne Plaza Vilnius" (M. K. Ciurlionio str. 84, Vilnius).

Media Centres are located in both venues. Access to the Media Centres is limited to individuals carrying appropriate press pass.

2. Accreditation

Access to media facilities will be available only to accredited media representatives. Accreditation is open to journalists, broadcasters, film and television camera crew and technicians.

In order to complete your accreditation request, you will need to fill in the Media Accreditation Form (available on the website http://www.asemtransport.org/) and provide a digital picture. Only a 3,5 x 4,5 cm passport-size photograph in JPEG format will be accepted.

Applications for accreditation along with the photo should be sent by e-mail: d.peredniene@transp.lt.

Applications for accreditation should be submitted by 25 September 2009.

In case of the need of Lithuanian visa, it is highly recommended to receive accreditation before applying for a visa. (An application for a single-entry Schengen visa shall be submitted by 5 October 2009.)

Press passes will be available for collection at the Media Accreditation Office (see chapter 4 ‘Facilities' for further information).

Press passes shall be collected personally at the Media Accreditation Office on presentation of an identification card or passport and a valid press card (or letter of accreditation from a recognized media organization), which should be presented at any time upon request of security personnel.

3. Security

Press passes are to be worn visibly and presented at any time upon request of security personnel.

We inform all Media representatives that security personnel will examine and may test equipment and personal effects carried onto the Media Centre. Media representatives are advised to arrive with sufficient time to pass the security checks.

4. Facilities

CROWNE PLAZA VILNIUS

Media Accreditation Office

The Media Accreditation Office will serve for general information, distribution of press cards and pool cards. It will be open in the Conference Centre of the hotel on 19 October 2009, 08:00-11:00 hrs.

Media Centre

Located in the Conference Centre of the hotel, it will be operational on 19 October 2009, 08:00-18:00 hrs.

The Media Centre consists of one room with up to 5 work stations. Each of it is equipped with an outlet for power supply for laptop computers. Please bring your own laptops and power/LAN adaptors. You will have wireless internet access as well as printing facilities.

Shuttle for the Press

There will be a shuttle available for the journalists from "Crowne Plaza Vilnius" to "Reval Hotel Lietuva" every half an hour from 12:00 to 17:00 hrs on 19 October 2009. For the timetable please ask at the Media Centre.

REVAL HOTEL LIETUVA

Media Accreditation Office

Media Centre

Located in the Conference Centre of the hotel, it will be operational on 19 October 2009, 12:00-18:00 hrs and on 20 October 2009, 8:00-15:00 hrs.

The Media Centre at "Reval Hotel Lietuva" has up to 20 work stations. Each of it is equipped with an outlet for power supply for laptop computers. Please bring your own laptops and power/LAN adaptors. You will have wireless internet access as well as printing facilities.

On 19-20 October 2009 there will be live broadcast of the event from the main conference hall to the Media Centre.

Information Point

There will be the Journalists' Information Point at the Media Centre, where all the information for the media representatives will be provided.

Press Conference Room

The Press Conference Room at the Media Centre is equipped with approx. 100 seats. It will be used for the main news conferences.

Shuttle for the Press

There will be a shuttle available for the journalists from "Reval Hotel Lietuva" to "Crowne Plaza Vilnius" every half an hour from 12:00 to 17:00 hrs on 19 October 2009. For the timetable please ask at the Journalists' Information Point.

5. Photo Services

Photographs taken during the conference will be available for publication on the website http://www.asemtransport.org/. The distribution of photos will be made exclusively by electronic means. Media representatives are asked to advise their media organization to download images directly from the above web address.

Photo processing is not available at the Media Centre.

6. Programme and Pools

The programmes of the events will be updated on-line and available on the website http://www.asemtransport.org/.

Media events will begin on 19 October 2009. Media programme will be available on the website http://www.asemtransport.org/.

Pool cards for the events with limited access will be distributed at the Media Accreditation Offices at "Crowne Plaza Vilnius" and "Reval Hotel Lietuva".

7. General information

Visas, Travel, Accommodation

The basic information concerning visas for the citizens of non-EU countries is available on the website http://www.asemtransport.org/. For any further information regarding visa requirements please check with the nearest Lithuanian Embassy or Consulate.

For accommodation assistance, please complete a selected Hotel Booking Form attached to the Media Accreditation Form (http://www.asemtransport.org/, media link ‘Accreditation'). The completed Booking Form should be sent directly to the hotel.

Refreshments

Coffee, snacks, hot and cold drinks will be available in the Media Centres.

Electrical Equipment

In Lithuania voltage is 220 V / 50 Hz and plugs have two round pins (RJ 45). Adaptors/transformers are therefore required for different voltages and plugs.

Lost and Found

For assistance with lost and found items, please contact the Media Centres.

Dialing Rules

To make an international call from Lithuania, dial 00 + country code + local number.

Payments

All major credit cards and bank transfers are accepted for payments. Currency exchange is available at banks and currency exchange offices.

Emergency

For any emergency issue please call 112.

8. Enquiries

Ms. Dalia Peredniene

Public Relations Division

Ministry of Transport and Communications