World Health Organization Regional Committee for Europe Sixty-First Session
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WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR EUROPE SIXTY-FIRST SESSION Baku, Azerbaijan 12–15 September 2011 Guide for participants Revised 24 July 2011 WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION REGIONAL OFFICE FOR EUROPE Scherfigsvej 8, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark Telephone: +45 39 17 17 17 Fax: +45 39 17 18 18 E-mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.euro.who.int/en/who-we-are/governance Baku Baku lies on the western shore of the Caspian Sea and the southern side of the Absheron Peninsula around the wide, curving sweep of the Bay of Baku. The bay, sheltered by the islands of the Baku Archipelago, provides the best harbour of the Caspian, while the Absheron Peninsula gives protection from violent northerly winds. The name Baku is possibly a contraction of the Persian bad kube (“blown upon by mountain winds“). Baku derives its importance from its oil industry and its administrative functions. History The first historical reference to Baku dates from AD 885, although archaeological evidence indicates a settlement there several centuries before Christ. By the 11th century AD, Baku was in the possession of the Shīrvān-Shāhs, who made it their capital in the 12th century, although for a period in the 13th and 14th centuries it came under the sway of the Mongols. In 1723 Peter I (the Great) captured Baku, but it was returned to Persia in 1735; Russia captured it finally in 1806. In 1920 Baku became capital of the Azerbaijan republic. The old city The core of present-day Baku is the old town, or fortress, of Icheri-Shekher. Most of the walls, strengthened after the Russian conquest in 1806, survive, as does the 90-foot (27-metre) tower of Kyz-Kalasy (Maiden’s Tower, 12th century). The old town is highly picturesque, with its maze of narrow alleys and ancient buildings. These include the Palace of the Shīrvān-Shāhs (now a museum), the oldest part of which dates from the 11th century. Also of the 11th century is the Synyk-Kala Minaret and Mosque (1078–79). Other notable historic buildings are the law court (Divan-Khan), the Dzhuma-Mechet Minaret, and the mausoleum of the astronomer Seida Bakuvi. The walled city, along with the Palace of the Shīrvān-Shāhs and Maiden’s Tower, were collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000. Modern-day Baku Around the walls of the fortress, the regular streets and imposing buildings of modern Baku rise up the slopes of the amphitheatre of hills surrounding the bay. Along the waterfront an attractive park has been laid out. Most industrial plants are located at the eastern and southwestern ends of the city. Greater Baku, divided into 11 districts, encompasses almost the entire Absheron Peninsula as well as islands off the tip of the peninsula and another built on stilts in the Caspian Sea, 60 miles (100 km) from Baku. The basis of Baku’s economy is petroleum. The presence of oil has been known since antiquity, and by the 15th century oil for lamps was obtained from surface wells. Modern commercial exploitation began in 1872. The Baku oil field at the beginning of the 20th century was the largest in the world, and it remained the largest field in what was then the Soviet Union until the 1940s. By the late 20th century, much of the easily extractable reserves had been exhausted; drilling was subsequently extended far underground and outward across the Absheron Peninsula and into the seabed. After Azerbaijan became independent, foreign companies contracted to explore for other potentially lucrative sites and develop them, and new refineries were established. Many derricks stand in the gulf facing the city. Most of the subordinate townships are drilling centres, linked by a network of pipelines to the local refineries and processing plants. From Baku oil is piped to the Supsa terminal in Georgia or the Ceyhan terminal in Turkey. Besides oil processing, Baku is a large centre for the production of equipment for the oil industry. Metalworking, shipbuilding and repair, the manufacture of electrical machinery, the production of chemicals and construction materials, and food processing also contribute to the local economy. Baku is also a major cultural and educational centre. It is the site of Baku State University (founded 1919), Khazar University (1991), and Azerbaijan Technical University (1950) and the Medical University; there are also several other institutions of higher education, including one specializing in the oil industry. The Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences comprises numerous scientific-research establishments. Museums include the State Art Museum (founded 1924) as well as collections devoted to education, history, and literature. There are also a number of theatres. Contents Page Date and place..................................................................................................................................1 Registration process .........................................................................................................................1 Badges..............................................................................................................................................2 Working languages and documentation ...........................................................................................2 Submissions by delegations .............................................................................................................2 Travel arrangements.........................................................................................................................2 Arrival in Baku.................................................................................................................................2 Local transport .................................................................................................................................3 Visas.................................................................................................................................................3 Lunches ............................................................................................................................................4 Currency...........................................................................................................................................5 Climate and clothing ........................................................................................................................5 Insurance ..........................................................................................................................................5 Personal security ..............................................................................................................................5 Medical services...............................................................................................................................5 Internet café......................................................................................................................................5 Hotel accommodation ......................................................................................................................6 Social events.....................................................................................................................................9 Accompanying persons’ programme .............................................................................................10 Annex 1. Registration form for visa Annex 2. Hotel registration form Annex 3. Friday excursion registration form Annex 4. Registration form for accompanying persons’ programme Guide for participants page 1 Date and place The sixty-first session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe (RC61) will open at 09:00 on Monday, 12 September and close on Thursday, 15 September 2011. The session will be held at the Gulustan Palace, Baku, Azerbaijan. The Gulustan Palace is situated some 30 km from Heydar Aliyev (GYD) international airport (approximately 40 minutes travel time). The sixty-first session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe will be held in a smoke-free environment. Registration process Online registration is now required for the Regional Committee, similar to the registration system in operation for meetings of WHO’s global governing bodies. A link to access the electronic Governing Bodies Meeting Registration System is included in the letter of invitation sent out to Member States in early May. This will allow the registration of one Focal Point per delegation, who will be responsible for registering the entire delegation. The same process will apply to all categories of invited participants. Once a Focal Point has been entered into the registration system, he/she will receive by e-mail a unique username and password, and the link to access the registration system. The Focal Point will register and submit the names of the delegates and attach a copy of the credentials containing the composition of the delegation. The Regional Governance unit at the WHO Regional Office for Europe will verify the information received from the Focal Point, which will then be submitted into the registration system to generate both meeting badges and the list of participants. Registration should be completed by 31 August 2011. Credentials should be issued by the Head of State, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Health or any other appropriate authority, i.e. Permanent Missions and senior government officials. Although a copy of the credentials will have been submitted through the online registration system, Member States