General information for the 3rd session of the Committee

Additional information is provided by the host country at its website: http://www.ich2008istanbul.org.

Venue of the third session of the Committee

PHOTO:00871-MED-R-The third session of the Intergovernmental Committee is held in Istanbul, Turkey, from Tuesday 4 November to Saturday 8 November 2008 at the Conrad Istanbul Hotel:
Address: Barbaros Blv. Yıldız Caddesi
34353 Beşiktaş
Istanbul Turkey
Tel: +90 212 227 3000
Fax: +90 212 259 6667
E-mail:istanbulinfo@conradhotels.com
URL: http://istanbul.conradmeetings.com / http://conradhotels1.hilton.com

Registration Forms

The registration form should be returned before 20 October 2008 to Ms Samira ZININI:

by e-mail (if permitted by your Acrobat version): s.zinini@unesco.org;
by fax: +33 (0)1 45 68 57 52
or in hard copy, addressed to: UNESCO CLT/CIH/ITH - 1 rue Miollis - 75732 Paris Cedex 15 - FRANCE

The participants are also requested to send before 20 October 2008 the form Hotel information and Participation in Cultural Programme to inform the Secretariat of UNESCO (Ms Samira Zinini, s.zinini@unesco.org) of :

their flight dates and time,
their reserved hotel and
their intention to participate or not in the cultural activities organized by the Turkish authorities.

Recommended Hotels

Istanbul offers a wide range of accommodation to suit all budgets and tastes.

Participants are advised to make their reservations well in advance, as availability cannot be guaranteed. In order to benefit from the negotiated room rates for the hotels recommended below by the Turkish authorities, participants are invited to make their room reservations before 20 October 2008, except for Green Park Taksim Hotel, for which the deadline is 15 October 2008, by referring to the booking code “ichistanbul2008”. Reservation should be done directly with the concerned hotels by using e-mail or fax and not through the websites of the hotels. Participants are responsible for covering all costs related to their accommodation incurred during their stay.

Apart from the Conrad Istanbul Hotel, all other recommended hotels are located in the Taksim district.

Shuttle service to the meeting venue will be provided from a meeting point at Taksim. A map indicating the Conrad Istanbul Hotel, district of Beşiktaş, and district of Taksim, as well as the shuttle service hours are available at the website of the host country: http://www.ich2008istanbul.org.

Conrad Istanbul Hotel***** (Committee meeting place)

Address: Barbaros Blv. Yıldız Caddesi 34353 Beşiktaş, Istanbul Turkey
Telephone/Fax: +90 212 227 3000 / +90 212 259 6667
Contact: Ms Gaye Azami (gaye.azami@hilton.com)
Web-site: http://conradhotels1.hilton.com/
Room Types/Rates:
- SNG ROOM RATE: 170.-EURO
- DBL ROOM RATE: 190.-EURO
- BOSPHORUS VIEW DIFFERENCE: 55.-EURO / EXECUTIVE FLOOR DIFFERENCE: 85.-EURO

Rates are inclusive of breakfast and taxes.

TAKSIM AREA

The Green Park Hotel Istanbul ****

Address: Abdülhak Hamit Cad. No:50 Taksim, Istanbul
Telephone/Fax: + 90 212 238 05 05/+ 90 212 237 76 46
Contact: Mr Omer Ozkan (taksim@thegreenpark.com)
Web-site: http://thegreenpark.com
Room Types/Rates:
- SNG ROOM RATE: 95.-EURO
- DBL ROOM RATE: 110.-EURO

Eresin Taxim Premier Hotel **** Superior

Address: Topcu Caddesi No:16 Taksim, Istanbul
Telephone/Fax: + 90 212 256 08 03/+ 90 212 253 22 47
Contact: Mr Neşe Akcan (sales.mgr@eresinhotels.com.tr)
Web-site: http://www.eresinpremier.com/
Room Types/Rates:
- SNG ROOM RATE: 115.-EURO
- DBL ROOM RATE: 140.-EURO

Eresin Taxim Hotel ****

Address: Topcu Caddesi No:34 Taksim, Istanbul
Telephone/Fax: + 90 212 256 08 03 / + 90 212 253 22 47
Contact: Mr Neşe Akcan (sales.mgr@eresinhotels.com.tr)
Web-site: http://eresintaxim.com.tr/
Room Types/Rates:
- SNG ROOM RATE: 90.-EURO
- DBL ROOM RATE: 105.-EURO

Golden Age 2 Hotel ****

Address: Abdulhakhamit Cad. No:60 Taksim, Istanbul
Telephone/Fax: + 90 212 235 81 60/+ 90 212 235 81 69
Contact: Mr Gözde Önal (info@goldenage2hotel.com)
Web-site: http://www.grandoztanik.com
Room Types/Rates:
- SNG ROOM RATE: 85.-EURO
- DBL ROOM RATE: 95.-EURO

ABOVE RATES ARE INCLUSIVE OF BREAKFAST AND TAX

Cultural activities

The Turkish authorities will organize the following cultural activities:
Wednesday, 5 November 2008

7 pm: Masterpieces of the Turkish Intangible Cultural Heritage (Venue : Kenter Theatre Harbiye - Karagöz, Minstrelsy Tradition,Semah, Çam Düdüğü)
8 pm: Cocktail hosted by Prof. Arsın Aydınuraz, President of the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO (Venue: Kenter Theatre Harbiye)

Thursday, 6 November 2008

8.30 pm: Concert by Şefika Kutluer (flutist) and Mevlana poetry (Venue: Aya Irini)

Saturday, 8 November 2008

3 pm - 6.30 pm : City Tour

Details of the cultural programme are available at the following website of the host country: http://www.ich2008istanbul.org.
Participants wishing to participate in the cultural programme are kindly requested to confirm their participation by duly filling in the Registration Form “Hotel information and Participation in Cultural Programme” (Annex C) and returning it to Ms Samira Zinini (s.zinini@unesco.org) before 20 October 2008.

Visa Requirements

Each participant is required to hold a valid passport to enter Turkey.
The website of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs at http://www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfa provides helpful visa information for foreigners travelling to Turkey. More information on visas and application requirements can be found at http://www.e-konsolosluk.net/InfoNotes/IN_Item.aspx?ID=300.

If a visa is required, it is the responsibility of the participants to obtain it before travelling. Citizens of some countries have the possibility to obtain their visas at the Turkish border gates. The list of those countries is available at http://www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-fees-at-border-gates-for-2008.en.mfa. For all information concerning visas and other formalities for entering Turkey, the participants may also contact directly the Turkish Embassies or Consulates in the countries where they reside.

The invitation letter from UNESCO may be used when applying for a visa. Please note that no personal letters of invitation can be provided for this purpose, and that only the Turkish authorities may determine the granting of a visa.

For further information on the location of Turkish Embassies and Consulates, please consult the following website: http://www.mfa.gov.tr/turkish-representations.en.mfa.

Airport Arrival and Liaison

There are two international airports in Istanbul.
Atatürk International Airport which is located on the European side receives most of the international flights. Sabiha Gökçen International Airport is located on the Asian side and serves generally for international charter flights.

Istanbul Atatürk International Airport

Location: The airport is located 24 km (15 Miles) west of the city centre
URL: http://www.ataturkairport.com
Address: Istanbul Atatürk Airport - Havalimanı Başmüdürlüğü - Yeşilköy, Istanbul, Turkey
Phone: +90 (0) 212 663 64 00

For transportation facilities from the airport to Istanbul city, please visit http://www.ataturkairport.com/eng/2.php

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport

Location: 34912 Pendik, Istanbul,
URL: http://www.sgairport.com/havaalani/eng/ulasim.asp
Address : Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport - Havalimani Başmüdürlüğü - Istanbul, Turkey
Phone : +90 (0) 216 585 5000
Fax : +90 (0) 216 585 5114

For transportation facilities from the airport to Istanbul city, please visit http://www.sgairport.com/havaalani/eng/ulasim.asp
There will be a welcome desk at the Atatürk and Sabiha Gökçen International Airports to assist the delegates upon their arrival (2 to 5 November 2008, from 09.00 to 24.00) and their departure (8 and 9 November 2008, from 09.00 to 24.00).