II. Pre-session arrangements  
 

1. Visas
Where necessary, members of delegations and representatives of the international organisations, non-governmental organisations, and the media are responsible for obtaining an appropriate visa for transit through and/or entry into the Netherlands should they need one. Visas may be obtained from a diplomatic or consular mission of the Netherlands in the delegates’ country of residence.

Annex A lists countries whose nationals do not require a visa for entry into the Netherlands, and those countries whose nationals do require a visa.

Delegates whose country of residence does not have a consular mission of the Netherlands may obtain a visa from the mission of another Schengen country that is responsible for issuing visas on behalf of the Netherlands. The Schengen countries are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.

In the event of any difficulty in obtaining a visa, the Protocol Branch of the Technical Secretariat may be approached for assistance either by telephone at +31 (70) 416 3553 and +31 (70) 416 3777 or by fax at +31 (70) 416 3044.

2. Registration
Participating States Parties are requested to forward to the Technical Secretariat, in writing, the name and the designation of each member of their delegation no later than Tuesday, 30 September 2003. All delegates must be registered with the Conference Secretariat as soon as possible after arrival.

Security badges will be issued to all delegates at the registration desk, on the basis of an official communication duly issued by the relevant government authorities. The badges must be worn at all times in the Conference area and will be required as identification at official OPCW venues other than the NCC.

A registration desk will be open between 10:00 and 18:00 hours on Friday, 17 October 2003, in front of the reception desk in the OPCW building (Johan de Wittlaan 32, The Hague).

At the NCC the registration desk will be open between 10:00 and 18:00 on Sunday, 19 October 2003, and throughout the duration of the Conference between 08:00 and 18:00.

3. Credentials
States Parties are required to submit the credentials of their representatives to the Eighth Session of the Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention. In accordance with Rule 26 of the Rules of Procedure of the Conference, credentials, which should be issued either by the Head of State or Government, or by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, or by any other authority acting on their behalf, must be submitted to the Director-General no later than Monday, 13 October 2003. Credentials are necessary only for the representative of each State Party, and not for additional members of the delegation.

Back to top of the page

 
  ©2003 OPCW. All rights reserved.