Central and Eastern Europe Regional Meeting on the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), Riga, Latvia, 4- 6 December2006,

Practical Information for Participants

Date and Time

SAICM regional meeting

The meetings will be held from the 4-6 December 2006 at thepremises of hotel “Konventa seta” (The Convent garden), Latvia, and will run from begin 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday and from 10.00 a.m. to 13.00 on Wednesday.

Venue

Conference Hall “Kampenhauzen”

Kaleju iela 9/11

Riga LV-1050

Latvia

Tel. +371 7087501
Fax: +371 7087515

Website:

Map:

Registration

Registration for the SAICM regional meeting will commence at 09:00 -10:00 a.m. on Monday 4December 2006

Language

The meeting will be conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation inRussian

Daily subsistence allowance (DSA) and payment of expenses for sponsored participants

Participant sponsored by UNEP will be provided with Daily Subsistence Allowance at theUN rate for Riga. In accordance with the UN rules, the allowance is paid from the first day of designated travel over the most direct route up to and including the last day before the traveler returns home on the first available flight after the closure of the meeting. Beyond the payment of this allowance and the accommodation and meals noted above, UNEP accepts no responsibility for the payment of other hotel expenses, meals, taxis, excess baggage charges, insurance, ground transport charges, and other incidental expenses. These liabilities should be settled directly by the participants.

Accommodation

Participants are expected to make their hotel reservations in the hotel “Konventa sēta”.Deadline for reservation on special hotel price rates is 13 November 2006. This hotel offer special rates 77Euronegotiated by the local organizers. Reservation number for those purposes is 232277.

Hotel address:

Kaleju str. 9/11,

Riga LV-1050,

Latvia

Tel. +371 7087501
Fax: +371 7087515

Email:

Website:

Transportation

RigaInternationalAirport is situated 15 km from the City Centre. There are various possibilities to reach the city center:

1)taxi to the hotel – approximately 10 Euros

2)public transport.Buss No 22 to city center - buss station „11 Novembra krastmala“(map and traffic schedule of the buss departure from the airport is enclosed) – ticket price 0.20 LVS (approx. 0.30 Euro)

Please indicate the persons who have to be met at the airport (e.g. representatives from Secretariat or Commission). In addition please indicate the time and date of arrival.

Local organisers

Mr. Rolands Arturs Bebris

Director

Department of Environmental Protection

Ministry of Environment

25 Peldu Str.

Riga LV-1494

Latvia

Tel: (+371) 702 6501/940 4798

Fax: (+371) 782 0442

Email:

Tehnical assistance

Zane Gedroviča

Senior Official

Ministry of the Environment

Tel: +371 7026511

Fax: +371 7820442

Email:

Visa Arrangements

Participants are responsible for checking visa requirements and obtaining their own visa(s) if required. Please contact the Latvian Embassy or Consulate in your country.

If you need a Latvian visa you must have a special invitation from the Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Latvia, approved by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs of Latvia. Please fill out the questionnaire below – we need this information for the standard invitation form. We will send you an official invitation in order to obtain a visa.

Please send the questionnaire as soon as possible to:

Mrs. Vineta Holstroma

Senior official

Phone : +371 7026 529

Fax : +371 7026 549

e-mail :

Questionnaire

Name:

Surname:

Nationality/Citizenship:

Date of birth:

Place of birth:

Date and place of Passport issue:

Passport No.:

Date of Passport expiration:

Current occupation:

Employer’s address and phone number:

The address of the place of residence:
Anticipated place of residence and duration of stay in Latvia:
The location (office) where the visa application will likely be submitted.

For more information about visas, please check the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: and the website of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs: .

Exhibition and side-events

Participants interested in organizing a side event or diplaying materials for exhibition should contact Muhammed Omotola (SAICM Secretariat), or +41 22 917 8334 for addtional information.

Insurance

Participants are expected to make their own arrangements for insurance against accidents, if so desired.

Currency

The currency used in Latviais called the Lats (LVL); the exchange rate is

1 USD = 0.54 Latvian Lats (as of 28 August 2006)

1 EUR = 0.70 Latvian Lats

Weather

Latvia has atemperate climate, but with considerable temperature variations. Winter, which lasts from November to mid-March, can be very cold. Average temperature in Riga in December is -2°C Snowfall is common in winter months.Warm clothingis therefore recommended.

Traffic schedule for bus No 22

Stop Lidosta Rīga

Mon-Fri
Hour / Min
5 / 45
6 / 05203550
7 / 0517294055
8 / 10253747
9 / 02173255
10 / 2045
11 / 1540
12 / 0535
13 / 002555
14 / 2550
15 / 154559
16 / 11274155
17 / 09233751
18 / 08203450
19 / 1535
20 / 002555
21 / 2045
22 / 1540
23 / 0540
/ Sat-Sun
Hour / Min
5 / 50
6 / 1438
7 / 022650
8 / 1442
9 / 1254
10 / 2253
11 / 1844
12 / 0936
13 / 022754
14 / 2045
15 / 1236
16 / 033656
17 / 2147
18 / 1649
19 / 29
20 / 032856
21 / 1849
22 / 1840
23 / 1040

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