Ohrid, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
28 - 31 August 2003

Technical Information

Data - arrival and departure

1. The Regional Forum on 'Dialogue Among Civilizations' will take place in Ohrid, on Friday, 29 and Saturday, 30 August, 2003, in the 'Metropol' and 'Bellevue' Hotels, respectively. Heads of States and Governments of the Region are invited, as well as personal envoys of Heads of States of Europe, Asia, Africa and America. Participants shall also include former senior political officials, notable persons, as well as experts in peace and stability issues, democracy and civil society, religion, culture and education. Their arrival is expected in the afternoon of Wednesday, 28 August or in the morning on Friday, 29 August. The departure from the Republic of Macedonia is expected in the late evening on Saturday, 30 August and on Sunday, 31 August.

Place

2. The Forum will take place in both the Metropol Hotel and Bellevue Hotel, in Ohrid.

Sessions of the Forum and size of the delegations

3. On 29 August, the Forum will open in Plenary, with the participation of the delegations, (each numbering 1 or 2 representatives), and other invited participants.

In the afternoon, the Forum will continue its activity with working groups (Panel discussions) on the following topics: Peace and Stability; Democracy and Civil Society; and Culture and Diversity. It is foreseen that moderators will be chosen to chair each panel discussion.

Addresses

4. H.E. Mr. Boris Trajkovski, President of the Republic of Macedonia, together with H.E. Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura, the Director-General of UNESCO are expected to open the official ceremony and Rabbi Arthur Schneier, President of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation. The order of speakers will be defined alphabetically by the name of the Head of each Delegation. All addresses will be limited to ten minutes duration.

The Closing Plenary Session will take place on Saturday, 30 August 2003 at which the moderators will present their reports of the debates of each of the panel discussions. Subsequently, the final document will be adopted.

Translation

5. Simultaneous translation between Macedonian and English will be provided. During the plenary sessions translation between English and French will be available. Representatives of delegations wishing to use other languages are kindly requested to provide their own translation/interpretation.

Official Functions

6. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will host a welcome reception at the Metropol Hotel, on 28 August 2003 (Wednesday) for those participants in the Forum who have arrived in Ohrid by that time.

On 29 August 2003 (Friday), H.E. Mr. Boris Trajkovski, President of the Republic of Macedonia, will host a dinner in honor of the Heads of Delegations. 

On the same day, H.E. Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, will host a luncheon for the Forum participants. 

H.E. Mr. Branko Crvenkovski, President of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, is expected to host a luncheon for the Heads of the Delegations on 30 August, 2003 (Sunday).

Accommodation

7. The Delegations will be accommodated in the Metropol Hotel and Bellevue Hotel, Ohrid.

Expenses related to the accommodation of any Head of State/Government and for two members of their delegation, for the personal envoys of Heads of State/Government, as well as invited experts, will be covered by the organizer of the Forum. Reservations should be made through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia.

Costs incurred for sundries such as international phone/fax calls, as well as room service and mini-bar etc., shall be covered by the participants themselves.

Arrival and Departure

8. Delegations will be welcomed at the Skopje and Ohrid Airport by a member of the President's Cabinet and State Protocol. They will be escorted to either the Metropol or Bellevue Hotel. Those arriving by road, will be escorted from the border by security service personnel. Details regarding arrival should be given as promptly as possible to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia, especially for those participants taking special flights, so that the necessary logistical arrangements may be taken in due time at the Skopje and Ohrid airports. 

The platform/ramp area of the Ohrid Airport will be available for parking of 25-30 airplanes for which fuel will be provided and other necessary demands satisfied.

Transportation

9. The Organizer shall provide all internal transportation of the Delegations during the Forum. International transportation shall be provided and covered only for experts. Each Head of Delegation will have an official VIP vehicle at their disposal. Other delegates will be transported by cars, mini-buses, and buses, where necessary. Embassies shall be called upon, from time-to-time, for the accreditation of their official cars used during the Forum.

Registration and Identification Badges (Accreditation)

10. Each Head of Delegation will be given an identification pin, while other delegates will be given an accreditation badge with the flag of their state, in accordance to their status. Accreditation forms should be completed and returned to the Organizational Committee no later than the end of July 2003. Each participant shall be requested to wear their badges at all times during sessions and other activities included in the Program of the Forum.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia shall ensure security for senior officials and all participants in the Forum.

Press

11. A Press Center will be established at the Metropol Hotel. Journalist accreditation should be addressed directly to the Information Agency of the Republic of Macedonia. The Press Center will be equipped with tables, computers, phone sets and fax machines. Costs for the phone and fax communication is to be covered by the users themselves. News correspondents and other media personnel can be present at the opening ceremony, during the signing ceremony of the final Document, as well as the press conference.

Secretariat

12. The organization of the Forum is assigned to the Executive Secretariat consisting of the officials from the President's Cabinet, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Internal Affairs, as well as from the Department of Common and Joint Activities at the Government of the Republic of Macedonia.

A Secretariat will be set up at the Metropol Hotel and it will be equipped with computers, phone sets, fax machines and copiers. Each Delegation may use direct phone and fax outgoing calls at their own expense.