PRACTICAL Regional intersessional consultation on a protocol on illicit trade in tobacco products Mexico, 4-5 June 2009 1. Date and venue PRACTICAL INFORMATION The Regional Consultation meeting will be held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Meeting Hall Room José María Morelos y Pavón Sections E & F (1 st floor). Address: Av. Juárez No. 20, Col Centro, Delegación Cuauhtémoc, México D.F. C.P. 06010, Tel. +52 55 36 86 51 00 The meeting will open at 09:00 on Thursday 04 June 2009 and is expected to close not later than 15:00 on Friday 05 June 2009. Registration will take place outside the meeting room, between 08:00 am and 09:00 am on 04 June 2009. Please note that participants should arrive at least 30 minutes before opening in order to pass through security control. 2. Working hours Thursday 04 June 2009 from 09:00 to 17:30 Friday 05 June 2009 from 9:00 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 15:00 (if necessary). The Government of Mexico will provide tea/coffee at the venue during the meeting days, and lunch on 04 June. 3. Nominations of participants: Parties are invited to communicate the name(s) and details of their representative(s) to the Convention Secretariat as soon as possible. An advance copy of the nomination may be sent by e-mail to fctcsecretariat@who.int or by fax to +41 22 791 5830. 4. Accommodation: Hotel Fiesta Inn Centro Histórico Av. Juárez 76 / José Azueta 27 C. Col. Centro, 06010, México, D.F. Tel.: +52 (55) 51 30 29 00 Fax: +52 (55) 51 30 29 10 1
The hotel facilities is located at walking distance ( aprox.250 meters) from the meeting venue. The Government of Mexico will cover the accommodation for participants from Parties. Accommodation includes breakfast and dinner for June 4 th and 5 th. The Government of Mexico will need to confirm your arrival dates at the hotel. Therefore, please complete the attached registration form and return it to the contact point by e-mail: ale_pdeleon@yahoo.com (details are provided at the bottom of the registration form) as soon as possible, no later than May 29 th. All participants are kindly asked to settle the bill for any other additional charges (laundry, room service, bar bills, telephone calls etc.) directly with the management of the hotel. 5. Local transport The Government of Mexico will provide transportation services from the airport to the hotel for participants. Therefore, please complete the attached transportation form, indicating arrival and departure details. Please return it to the contact point by e-mail: ale_pdeleon@yahoo.com (details are provided at the bottom of the transportation form) as soon as possible, no later than May 29 th. Participants should meet hosting personnel upon arrival at the International arrival zone, according to the information sent in the transportation form, carrying a sign with the inscription: WHO, AMRO, INB3. Participants that prefer to travel from the airport to the hotel by their own, please inform it at contact point: ale_pdeleon@yahoo.com. In this case, it is advised to only take taxi services provided by the International Airport of Mexico City, whose office is located immediately after customs exit, inside the airport facilities. Distance from the airport to downtown Mexico City is 15km, approximately 30 minutes ride. The estimated cost for this service is 180.00 Mexican pesos (approximately US$17.00). 6. Travel support To facilitate participation from low and lower-middle income countries (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay and Peru), the Convention secretariat will be able to cover the travel and per diem for one delegate from each of the Parties mentioned above. To allow timely processing of ticket and per diem, Parties that are eligible for travel support and payment of a per diem are urged to submit their nominations as soon as possible. 7. Visas Participants are required to verify whether they need a visa to enter Mexico. If so, kindly apply for one as soon as possible. The letter of invitation from the Convention Secretariat to participate in the meeting should facilitate the issuance of your visa. For visa support from the Government of Mexico, please send an e-mail to Lic. Alejandra Pérez De León (ale_pdeleon@yahoo.com) with your invitation letter (issued by the Convention Secretariat) and a copy of the first page of your passport immediately, no later than May 25 th. 8. Vaccination requirements (if any) Participants may also wish to consult the information on http://www.who.int/ith. 2
9. Safety and security For safety reasons, it is advised to avoid taking street taxis, as well as wearing obviously expensive jewelry and walking late at night. It is also recommended to only take taxis from the hotel, radio taxis or "sitio" (regulated taxi stands). Safe taxi services include: 1. Taximex: Tel. 55381440 / 55197690 2. Radio Servicios Móviles de Transporte: Tel. 55774012 / 57710130 / 57604696 / 55517710 3. Servitaxis: 55166020 4. Radio Maxi Seguridad: 57688557 / 57688553 10. Useful contacts: Lic. José Francisco Hernández Aguilar Director General of International Affairs Secretariat of Health Paseo de la Reforma No. 450, 3er piso, Col. Juárez, Delegación Cuauhtémoc Tel: (52)55 1102 0902 Fax: (52)1102 0308 E-mail: fhernandeza@salud.gob.mx Dr. Justino Regalado Pineda Head of the National Office for Tobacco Control National Council against Addictions CONADIC/Secretariat of Health Paseo de la Reforma No. 450, piso 10, Col. Juárez, Delegación Cuauhtémoc Tels: (52)55 5207 9935 Fax: (52)55 5208 0750 E-mail: jregalad@prodigy.net.mx Logistics contact point: Lic. Alejandra Pérez De León Consultant on International Affairs National Council against Addictions CONADIC/Secretariat of Health Paseo de la Reforma No. 450, piso 9, Col. Juárez, Delegación Cuauhtémoc Tels: (52)55 5207-9821 Fax: (52)55 5207-9635 E-mail: ale_pdeleon@yahoo.com Convention Secretariat: Email: fctcsecretariat@who.int; schwerdtfegeru@who.int Fax: +41 22 791 5830 3
Other relevant information from the Government of Mexico: 1. Prevention measures Participants should notice that Mexican Ministry of Health has announced that the influenza A H1N1 has been controlled and therefore travelling to Mexico does not represent a sanitary risk. Never the less it is recommended to follow the Mexican government s indications about the sanitary alert due to Influenza A1 H1/N1 outbreak. Specifically, avoid sudden changes of temperature, wash your hands frequently, avoid crowded places, stay away from people with symptoms of respiratory infection, do not share food, glasses or cutlery, avoid greeting people with a handshake or kiss, use masks in public places (during the meeting) and, when coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth with a handkerchief or with the inner elbow. If necessary, participants will receive a kit that contains 3 masks and antibacterial gel that will be given at the hotel registration desk. 2. Smoke-free environment As it is understood, this will be a 100% smoke-free meeting. The Foreign Affairs Ministry is a smoke-free environment. 3. Exchange rate/bank information The currency in Mexico is Mexican Pesos (USD 1.00 = $ 13 approx.). All major banks will cash traveler s checks. The Hotel also provides money exchange facility at nominal charges. There are number of cash dispensers (ATM) throughout the city. Please notice that exchange rates could vary between airport and banks. We recommend to exchange money only on authorized facilities. 4. Language The working languages of the meeting will be English, French, Portuguese and Spanish with simultaneous interpretation. Participants will be asked to provide an identification to receive translation equipment. 5. Weather During June, Mexico City enjoys mild temperature, ranging from 12-25 C approximately, with chances of rain especially in the afternoons and evenings. 6. Local time GMT-06:00 (adjusted by daylight saving time). 7. Electric power Electric power in Mexico is 110 V and 60 Hz. 8. Taxes All purchases in Mexico are taxed with 15% VAT, with the exception of prescription drugs and Basic products. 4
Stores are generally open from 9:00 to 21:00 hours, approximately. 9. Tipping Tips are not included on bills at restaurants and bars. It is customary to leave a 10% tip out of the total bill upon satisfactory provision of the service. 10. Dressing Code Casual Formal 5