IOC/IODE-XV/Inf.1

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Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/1834/1606 Restricted Distribution IOC/IODE-XV/Inf. 1 Paris, 6 November 1995 Original: English

INTERGOVERNMENTAL OCEANOGRAPHIC COMMISSION (of UNESCO)

Fifteenth Session of the IOC Committee on International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (Athens, Greece, 23-31 January 1996)

INFORMATION ON ARRANGEMENTS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR THE SESSION

SITE OF THE SESSION

The Fifteenth Session of the IOC Committee on International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange will be held at the Zappeion Conference Centre, Athens, Greece, located in the city centre, in the commercial and tourist area facing Hadrian's Arch and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. It is near Plaka (old city) and the Acropolis, 5 mts walk to Syntagma Square (Constitution Square), 10 kms from Athens airport and 10 kms to the port of Pireaus.

The address of the Session is as follows:

Zappeion Conference Centre 10557 Athens Greece

PRE-SESSION CONSULTATIONS

The IODE Officers Meeting to consider organizational and procedural matters will be held at the Zappeion Centre on Monday, 22 January 1996 at 10.00. The participants are reminded that no interpretation services will be available for the IODE Officers Meeting and for other pre-conference consultations, if any.

The Chairmen of the IODE Subsidiary Bodies and representatives of Member States who would like to have pre- Session consultations, should inform the Technical Secretary IOC of their wish, and the number of participants before 1 January 1996.

OPENING SESSION

The formal opening of IODE-XV will take place at 10.00 on Tuesday, 23 January 1996, at the Zappeion Conference Centre.

Further information about the opening ceremonies will be given on Monday, 22 January 1996, in the afternoon.

REGISTRATION OF PARTICIPANTS AND IDENTIFICATION BADGES

Registration of participants will begin on Monday, 22 January 1996, after 14.00 in the Zappeion Conference Centre, at the registration counter on the first floor and will continue until 18.00 that day. On Tuesday, 23 January 1996, from 08.30 until 09.30. After this, the registration will be open from 24-30 January 1996 from 08.00 until 09.00. The participants will need to fill in special forms and will get a set of documents and identification badges. Admission to the Zappeion Conference Centre will require, at all times, presentation of these badges.

SEATING ARRANGEMENTS

During the Meeting of the Plenary, specifically identified seating facilities will be available for all participants, based on the preliminary list of participants and registration forms received.

A few conference rooms with a seating capacity of more than 20 each will be available for intersessional, regional, technical and other group meetings. Participants wishing to reserve one of these rooms are requested to contact Mr. A. Vannier, Co-ordinator for Secretariat services.

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LANGUAGES OF THE SESSION

English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the Session. Interpretation services will be arranged for all plenary sessions.

Intersessional groups will work in English only and no interpretation services will be provided.

Working documents for the Fifteenth Session will be made available in the languages as mentioned in Doc.IOC/IODE-XV/4 prov. No translation will be available for documents and other material brought by participants directly to the Session.

Translation of the Draft Resolutions and Recommendations will be arranged prior to their discussion at and adoption by the plenary.

DISTRIBUTION OF OFFICIAL AND OTHER DOCUMENTS

The main document distribution counter will be located at the entrance to the Session rooms. "Pigeon Holes" for documents will be available for each delegation and representatives of Member States, international organizations and subsidiary bodies. Limited stocks will be available for visitors.

All documents issued during the Session will be placed in the pigeon holes. To determine the exact requirement, each delegation and representative is requested to inform the document distribution centre of the number of copies of each document required and in what language.

In regard to other documents that participants may wish to make available at the Session, a copy should be first handed to the Technical Secretary, Dr. I. Oliounine for approval. They should be provided by the participants themselves, in the required quantity and in one or more of the working languages of the Session. The Secretariat will not be able to undertake neither reproduction nor translation of such documents. It is suggested that participants make approximately 60 copies available. The Secretariat will ensure that distribution of such documents will be undertaken.

The Secretariat will also ensure that tables are located in close proximity to the Session rooms, where any information documents, brochures, flyers, etc. can be displayed. It would be appreciated if one copy of any of the items listed be given to Mr. Vannier.

EXHIBITION

The exhibition of IOC activities in the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange to be held in conjunction with the Conference will officially open on 24 January 1996 at 16.00 pm at the Zappeion Conference Centre.

The exhibition will include panels with posters describing the IOC IODE programme and those describing marine-related international activities, publications of UNESCO/IOC and those of IOC Member States, CD-ROMs and software demonstrations.

HOTELS (see map attached)

Special arrangements have been made with a few hotels located near the Conference Centre. Prices include breakfast and are special for IODE-XV. They should be mentioned in your reservation. Reservations should be made in the name of the guest and the hotel bill is to be settled directly. In case of cancellation, the hotel may charge costs to the guest. Reservations received after 10 January 1996 cannot be guaranteed. IOC/IODE-XV/Inf. 1 page 3

Royal Olympic Hotel ***** Electra Hotel Athens **** 28, Athanassiou Diakou Str. 5, Emou Str. Syntagma Square 117 43 Athens 105 63 Athens Tel: <30> (1) 923 03 15/924 90 60 Tel: <30> (1) 322 32 23 Fax: <30> (1) 923 33 17 Fax: <30> (1) 322 03 10 Tlx: 216753 Price: 16,800 (S), 21,300 (D)

Price: 10,000 (single), 13,000 (double) 16,000 Athens Gate Hotel *** (triple) 10, Syngrou Ave. (prices are all in Greek drachmas. 1 US$ = 235 117 43 Athens drachmas). Tel: <30> (1) 923 83 02 Fax: <30> (1) 923 74 93 Athens Electra Palace Hotel **** Tlx: 219660 gate gr 18, Nikodimou Str. Plaka Price: 10,000 (S), 12,000 (D), 15,000 (T) 105 57 Athens Tel: <30> (1) 324 14 01 Amalia Hotel Athens *** Fax: <30> (1) 324 18 76 10, Amalias Ave. Tlx: 216696 105 57 Athens Price: 16,800 (S), 21,300 (D) Tel: <30> (1) 323 73 01 Fax: <30> (1) 323 87 92 Tlx: 215161 Price: 11,000 (S), 15,000 (D)

TRANSPORTATION

The transfer by taxi from the two Athens airports (Olympic Airport and the International Airport) to the Zappeion area takes about 15-20 mts, depending on the traffic. Cost of taxi is less than 2,000 drachmas.

The transfer by an express bus which operates between the two Athens airports and the city centre takes around 30 mts. It departs from the Olympic Airport almost every 20 mts, stops at the International Airport, Royal Olympic Hotel, Syntagma square and ends at Omonia square. The price of the bus ticket is 160 drachmas.

There will be no transportation available to and from the hotels to the place of the Session, as all the recommended hotels are located at a walking distance from the Zappeion Conference Centre.

VISA ARRANGEMENTS

Participants requiring a visa are requested to make their own arrangements by contacting the Greek Embassy or Consulate in their own country. If a problem arises for delivery of a visa, please contact the local organizer, Dr. E. Balopoulos for assistance. His address is given below.

Upon request, participants from countries where no Greek Embassy or Consulate is available, will be given advice by the local organizer on how to proceed in obtaining a visa.

LOCAL CLIMATE CONDITIONS

In January, the winter in Athens is generally mild. Meteorological conditions for the period 20-31 January over the last 30 years are as follows:

Mean temp. 10.30C Mean min. temp. 7.40C Mean max. temp. 13.70C Mean relative humidity 71% Fine weather 2 days Fair weather 5.2 days Overcast weather 3.8 days Rainy weather 3.5 days IOC/IODE-XV/Inf. 1 page 4

CURRENCY

The local currency is the Greek Drachma. As of 1 October 1995, 1 ECU = 305 drachmas. 1 US$ = 235 drachmas.

SOCIAL EVENTS

Information on social events which will be arranged for the participants during the Session and will be circulated by special communiqués in advance, and announced by the representatives of the local organizing committee.

There will be a special programme for the spouses of the participants. The local organizing committee is ready to help participants and their spouses in arranging tourist excursions during and after the Session. Details of the programme will be announced during the Session.

For any further information, contact:

Dr. E. Balopoulos Hellenic National Oceanographic Centre National Centre for Marine Research Aghios Kosmas, Hellinikon 166 04 Athens GREECE Tel: <30> (1) 981 57 03 Fax: <30> (1) 983 30 95 Tlx: 224135 ncmr gr IOC/IODE-XV/Inf. 1 page 5

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