CORFU, 25 June 2009 - The informal meeting of OSCE Foreign Ministers, hosted by the Greek Chairmanship, will take place from the evening of 27 June to mid-afternoon on Sunday 28 June on the Greek island of Corfu. These informal ministerial discussions will move forward a process of exploratory talks that started during the Helsinki Ministerial Council last December. The meeting will start with an informal dinner on Saturday evening, following the meeting of the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) on Saturday afternoon.

A press centre will be open to journalists covering both the NRC and the OSCE meetings. Journalists who request accreditation to the NRC meeting will not need additional accreditation to cover the OSCE meeting. Similarly, those requesting accreditation for the OSCE meeting will be considered to have applied also to cover the NRC meeting.

Please note that journalists accredited to the OSCE in Vienna or in any other OSCE locations still need separate accreditation for Corfu.

Accreditation has closed. For more information please contact Maria Pantselia or Elena Drakopoulou: Tel. +30210 3681921 - 2.

Journalists should consult the nearest Greek Embassy to check if they need an entry visa prior to their arrival in the country.

A list of hotels in the city of Corfu is available by clicking on the following link: http://www.osce.org/documents/cio/2009/06/38137_en.pdf 

PRESS BADGES AND ACCREDITATION

Journalists with accreditations for the NRC and OSCE Informal Ministerial Meeting will be able to pick up their accreditation badges at the Corfu Airport accreditation desk from 08:00 to 21:00 on Friday, 26 June, and from 08:00 to 12:00 on Saturday, 27 June.

After 12:00 Saturday, 27 June they will be able to pick up their accreditation badges only at the accreditation desk at the Eva Palace Hotel.

Important information on shuttles from the city to the press centre will be delivered at the same desks.

Journalists should present a valid ID card or passport and a valid press card or letter of accreditation from their media organisation.

Press badges need to be worn visibly at all times and secondary identification may be requested by security personnel at any time.

PRESS CENTRE AND SECURITY CHECKS

The press centre will be located in the Corfu Imperial hotel where both meetings will be held. A detailed media programme will be available upon accreditation in Corfu.

The press centre will be open on Saturday, 27 June, and Sunday, 28 June, from 08:00 until the end of operations.

Journalists are informed that security personnel will examine and may test equipment and personal effects brought to the press centre and are therefore advised to arrive with sufficient lead time to clear security checks.

There will be shuttle service between the town of Corfu and the venue. Detailed information about shuttles will be available at the accreditation desks.

Television and radio editing booths will be available for radio and TV networks. Use of the booths and stand-up positions will be first come, first served.

POOLS AND PRESS CONFERENCES

On Saturday evening, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, will welcome Ministers of the OSCE participating States at the Achillion Palace, starting from 20:00.

A pool for photographers and camera crews will be organized for the handshakes and the family photo at the Achillion Palace.

Another photo and film pool will be organized for the start of proceedings on Sunday morning.

Photographers and camera crews who wish to be part of the pool should send a request to press@osce.org before Friday, 26 June, 24:00 GMT and contact the Information Desk at the Press Centre in the Corfu Imperial Hotel on Saturday, 27 June, starting from 14:00, local time.

The opening remarks for the informal ministerial meeting will be available on the internal CCTV system and can be followed from the press working area.

A press conference is scheduled for Sunday following the final session, which is set to conclude around 13:15. The press conference also will be available on CCTV. Please note that the press conference will be in English with interpretation into Russian.

Photographers seeking pool photo materials should contact the photo agency of which they are a member or client. The OSCE will also provide photos to download from the OSCE website - see the "Photo Gallery" link on http://www.osce.org/conferences/inf_mc_2009.html.

For broadcasting requirements, please contact the host broadcaster Fanis Papathanasiou: +30 6979 98 1224

For additional information, please contact press@osce.org or the press staff in the press centre.

OSCE Spokesman Martin Nesirky: +43 664 859 08 26
Greek Press Office Elena Drakopoulou: +30 210 368 1654