Media organizations interested in accrediting journalists and press representatives for the Summit should submit, until April 29, 2005, the following documentation:

- F-3 form;
- two 3x4 photos (name written on the verse);
- copy of the first pages of the passport (including photo, number and personal information); press correspondents residing in Brazil may present, instead of passport, a copy of a valid national Identification document (RG or RNE)
- letter of the media organizatrion, signed by chief editor or director, requesting accreditation to the event (for non-resident media professional this letter could be substituted by a written request from the Embassy of the journalist´s country):

The documentation listed above shall be sent by electronic mail to aspa@mre.gov.br or posted to:

Obs: if sent electronically, all documents accompanying the F-3 form should be scanned and attached to the e-mail in JPEG format.

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II- Official Press

§ Each delegation participating in the event could appoint one photographer and one cameraman as official press. These professionals will have access to some restricted areas of the meeting and should be accredited using the F-1 form, the same used by other members of the delegation, marking the appropriate box. This form should be accompanied by a verbal note from the Embassy of the journalist´s country. Press assistants should also use this procedure, and be accredited as members of the official delegation..

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III- Clearance of Equipment for Entry into Brasil

Foreign journalists that intend to bring any electronic equipment to Brasil should use F-3a form in order to be granted import tax exemption for temporary admission of goods. Type, make, model, and serial number of all equipment that is to be admitted to the country should be specified in field 8 of F-3a form or on another attached paper. The form should be delivered to a Brasilian customs officer at the time of arrival in the country.

Journalists that arrive together with an official delegation could have their customs procedures simplified if the Embassy of the respective country fill in a F-3a form and attach a single list with the names of the journalists and the specifications of all the equipment. This form should be sent in advance to the GT-ASPA (address provided on page 1).

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IV- Media Center

A Media Center will be installed on the LakeSide Hotel from 8th to 11th May 2005. The LakeSide Hotel is situated at approximately 200 meters from Hotel Blue Tree, the main location for the event, and will be equipped with:
- 50 desktop computers with broadband Internet connection, word processor, and printers;
- 100 broadband Internet access points for laptops;
- 20 telephone lines e 10 fax machines (phone cards will be available for interstate and international calls);
- 02 large screens for live broadcast of the open events;
- a television broadcasting center operated by Radiobras (Brazilian state-owned broadcast company);
- briefing room;
- photocopy machines
- 50 desktop computers with broadband Internet connection, word processor, and printers;
- 100 broadband Internet access points for laptops;
- 20 telephone lines e 10 fax machines (phone cards will be available for interstate and international calls);
- 02 large screens for live broadcast of the open events;
- a television broadcasting center operated by Radiobras (Brazilian state-owned broadcast company);
- briefing room;
- photocopy machines.

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V- Interviews and Press Briefings

Upon request, a pool of rooms will be available in the Blue Tree Hotel for interviews of Heads of State or Government or Foreign Ministers. For daily briefings, press staff should use the briefing room available at the Press Center.

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VI -Accommodation and transportation

Journalists and press staff should make their own accommodation arrangements. A list with recommended hotels for the press follows bellow

• When making the reservation, please use the following codes:

Brazilian Press: ASPAPBR
South American Press: ASPAPSA
Arab Press: ASPAPAR

A regular shuttle service will be available between the Media Center and the other sites of the event (Blue Tree Hotel and Ulysses Guimarães Convention Center). Commuting will also be available between the Media Center and these recommended hotels. The complete schedule for arrivals and departures will be available closer to the date of the event.

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VII- Visas and Vaccines

• Non-resident journalists and press staff interested in working in the press coverage of the event should consult the local Brazilian Embassy or Consulate regarding visa requirements

• Brazilian health and sanitary authorities warn that visitors coming from some countries must present vaccination certificate against yellow fever. In order to consider the certificate valid, yellow fever vaccine should have been administered at least 10 days prior to departure from the above mentioned regions. Journalists and press staff are advised to consult the local Brazilian Embassy or Consulate on that issue.

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VIII - Television Broadcasting Center

• Radiobras (Brazilian state-owned broadcast company) will have a broadcasting center installed at the Press Center for assisting national and foreign broadcasting companies. It will also provide open channel signals (NTSC system) for satellite distribution. For further information, please contact Mr. Roberto Gontijo (tels: +55 61 327-4358 or +55 61 327-4359, fax: +55 61 327 4352, e-mail: rgontijo@radiobras.gov.br) at Radiobras.

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IX- Image and Data Transmission by Satellite

• Companies interested in satellite image and data transmission should contact Embratel (private-owned Brazilian telecommunication company) for arrangements. Further information can be obtained with Mr. Paulo César Machado Faillace, Embratel´s International Business Manager (tel.: +55 21 2121-7310 or mobile: +55 21 9375-3091).

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X - Press coverage

• The format of the press coverage of the Summit of South American-Arab Countries will be announced in due time by a press release with distribution to the embassies of the participating countries.

XI- Further information

• Further information or other requests regarding press coverage of the event should be directed to the Press Coordination Team of the Summit of the South American-Arab Countries (GT-ASPA) using the following contact information: tel: +55 61 411-6171; fax: +55 31 323-4730, emails: fcosti@mre.gov.br or brant@mre.gov.br.

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