IT/GB-5/13/Inf. 2 June 2013 FIFTH SESSION OF THE GOVERNING BODY Muscat, Oman, 24-28 September 2013 NOTE FOR PARTICIPANTS Last Update: 15 July 2013 1. MEETING ARRANGEMENTS .......................................................................................................... 2 DATE AND PLACE OF THE MEETING ........................................................................................................... 2 COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE SECRETARIAT ........................................................................................... 2 INVITATION LETTERS ................................................................................................................................. 2 ADMISSION OF PARTICIPANTS .................................................................................................................... 2 States that are Contracting Parties ......................................................................................................... 2 States that are not Contracting Parties................................................................................................... 3 Other international bodies or agencies .................................................................................................. 3 2. REGISTRATION ................................................................................................................................. 3 ONLINE PRE-REGISTRATION ...................................................................................................................... 3 ON-SITE REGISTRATION ............................................................................................................................. 3 3. DOCUMENTATION............................................................................................................................ 4 4. OFFICIAL LANGUAGES OF THE SESSION ................................................................................. 4 5. FORMALITIES FOR ENTRY INTO OMAN : VISA REQUIREMENTS..................................... 4 6. TRANSPORTATION ........................................................................................................................... 5 7. VENUE AND HOTEL ACCOMMODATION .................................................................................. 5 8. SUPPORT TO THE PARTICIPATION OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES CONTRACTING PARTIES ........................................................................................................................................................ 8 9. SIDE EVENTS AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS.................................................................... 8 10. USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT OMAN ...................................................................................... 8 OMAN .......................................................................................................................................................... 8 CLIMATE ..................................................................................................................................................... 9 LANGUAGE .................................................................................................................................................. 9 CUSTOMS .............................................................................................................................................. 10 CURRENCY .................................................................................................................................................. 10 TIME ......................................................................................................................................................... 10 TAXES AND TIPPING .................................................................................................................................. 10 ELECTRICITY ............................................................................................................................................ 10 TELEPHONE SERVICES AND USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS ................................................................... 11 POSTAL, FACSIMILE AND INTERNET SERVICES ........................................................................................ 11 BUSINESS HOURS....................................................................................................................................... 11 11. DISCLAIMER......................................................................................................................................12 12. ANNEX: LIST OF COUNTRIES ELIGIBLE FOR VISA UPON ARRIVAL…………………... 13 This document is printed in limited numbers to minimize the environmental impact of FAO's processes and contribute to climate neutrality. Participants are kindly requested to bring their copies to meetings and to avoid asking for additional copies. 2 IT/GB-5/13/Inf. 2 1. MEETING ARRANGEMENTS Date and place of the meeting 1. The Fifth Session of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (International Treaty) will be held in Muscat, Oman, from 24 to 28 September 2013. The meeting will start on Tuesday 24 September 2013, at 10.00 a.m, and it will be preceded by two days of informal regional consultations, on Sunday 22 and Monday 23 September 2013. The meeting place for the Regular Session is “Al Bustan Palace” Hotel . CommunicationsU with the Secretariat 2. All correspondence related to the meeting should be addressed to the Secretary of the International Treaty at the following address: Mr Shakeel Bhatti Secretary International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 1 00153 Rome, Italy Tel: +39 06 5705 3441 Fax: +39 06 5705 3057 E-mail: PGRFA17TU [email protected] U17T http://www.planttreaty.org/content/gb517TU -meeting-room U17T 3. Any queries or requests for information should also be addressed to the Secretariat of the International Treaty at the above address. InvitationU Letters 4. The invitation letters are dispatched through the FAO official channels of communication. The Secretariat does not issue individual invitation letters. The model invitation letter is posted on the official website of the International Treaty at http://www.planttreaty.org/content/gb517TU -meeting- room U17T AdmiU ssion of participants 5. Sessions of the Governing Body are convened under the provisions of Article 19 of the International Treaty and are open to all Contracting Parties to the International Treaty as well as to observers. StatesU that are Contracting Parties For States that are Contracting Parties, it is recommended to: • Communicate to the Secretary the names and contact details (including mail address, telephone and fax number, and e-mail address) of the Contracting Party delegate, alternate, expert(s) and adviser(s), no later that U 15 July 2013.U • Submit credentials prior to the meeting, in order to facilitate the preliminary clearing of participants by the Secretariat. Credentials should be sent to the Secretary no later than U 15 July 2013.U Credentials should be issued by, or on behalf of, the Head of State or Government, the Minister of Foreign Affairs or the Minister of the Department IT/GB- 5/13/Inf. 2 3 concerned. For more information, please read the note on credentials that is available at: ftp://ftp.fao.org/ag/agp/planttreaty/gb5/CREDENTIALS-e.pdf 6. Contracting Party delegates whose names and credentials have not been submitted before the Session will be asked, upon registration, to submit their credentials. The title of the meeting must appear in the document. States that are not Contracting Parties 7. States that are not Contracting Parties, as well as the United Nations, its specialized agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency, may be represented as observers at the Session. As requested by the FAO Director-General in his letter of invitation, observers should communicate to the Secretary by 15 July 2013 the name(s) and contact details (including address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address) of the person or persons designated to participate in the Session. Observers whose names are not communicated before the Session will be asked, upon registration, to show a letter, on official letter-headed paper, confirming their nomination to participate in this Session. Other international bodies or agencies 8. Any other international body or agency, whether governmental or non-governmental, qualified in fields relating to conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, may also be represented at the Session as observer. Admission of observers will be subject to the receipt by the Secretary of an official letter from the body or agency before 15 July 2013 , providing the name, official title and contact details (including address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address) of the person(s) representing the body or agency. Observers will be asked upon registration to show a letter, on official letter-headed paper, from their body or agency confirming their nomination to participate in this Session. For more information, please contact the Secretariat of the International Treaty. 2. REGISTRATION Online pre-registration 9. Online pre-registration is mandatory. The information will be used to prepare the badges providing access to the meeting places and for the first draft of the Provisional List of Participants.