ITU Regional Cybersecurity Forum for Europe and CIS
Practical Information for Meeting Participants
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1. About Bulgaria and Sofia
The Republic of Bulgaria
Bulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is one of the oldest states in Europe, located in Southeastern Europe, bordering five other countries: Romania to the north (mostly along the Danube), Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia to the west, and Greece and Turkey to the south. The Black Sea borders the country to the east.
Currently Bulgaria functions as a parliamentary democracy in the form of a constitutional republic. A member of the European Union since 2007 and of NATO since 2004, it has a population of approximately 7.7 million, with Sofia as its capital and largest city.
Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is situated in the centre of the Balkan Peninsula where the main roads from Western Europe to the Middle East and from Northern Europe to the Mediterranean cross. Sofia lies in the southern part of the Sofia valley, which has an area of 1180 km² and an altitude of 350 m above see level, just at the foot of Vitosha Mountain. The majestic chain of the Balkan Range surrounds it by the north. Few capital cities in the world can boast such pretty and fairly high mountains in their close proximity.
Sofia is the main economic, cultural, scientific and financial centre of the country and has a population of about 2 million.
Founded seven thousand years ago, Sofia is the second oldest city in Europe. It has been given several names in the course of history and remnants of the old cities can steel be seen today.
The history of Sofia goes back to the stone age and is strongly influenced by its favorable geographical location, hot mineral springs and fertile soils. In Sofia can be found traces of the Thracian, Slavonic and Roman civilizations.
There are rich and valuable expositions in the Historical, the Ethnographic Museums, the National Art Gallery, the Museum of Natural History in Sofia. Famous monuments of culture are the Boyana Church and the Alexander Nevski Memorial Church with its rich collection of icons in the Crypt.
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2. About the Venue
The Regional Cybersecurity Forum for Europe and CIS will be
held at the Metropolitan Hotel Sofia. The Metropolitan Hotel Sofia is located at the eastern gate of Sofia City, on the main highway to E80, in the triangle of the roads to the city center, Sofia Airport and Business Park Sofia. The new 4-star hotel is the closest accommodation & conference venue to Sofia Airport – at only 10 minutes by car from the airport.
All 201 Metropolitan guestrooms and suites offer the advantages
of an international high-class hotel, adopting the best of the local
traditions. At Metropolitan you find all the required facilities for
business.
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Metropolitan Hotel Sofia **** 64 Tsarigradsko shose Blvd.
1784 Sofia, Bulgaria
Tel.: +359 2 4191 941
Fax: +359 2 4191 909
Website: www.metropolitanhotelsofia.com
Free access to high speed Wi-Fi Internet connection in all
public areas. |
4. Entry Requirements for Bulgaria (visas, assistance, etc.)
A valid passport is required for entry to Bulgaria. A consultation with the Bulgarian Embassy or Consulate in the participants' country is advisable and especially for those participants requiring visas. For this purpose you may also visit the web site of the
Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
at www.mfa.government.bg.
No entry visas are required for citizens of the EU and EFTA Member States.
Visa applicants wishing to obtain support for the entry visa and
assistance with regards to the visa must
provide the contact point with the following information:
- Full Name
- Nationality
- Date of Birth
- Passport Number
- Passport Date of Issue
- Passport Date of Expiry
Please note that entry visas cannot be issued on arrival at the
airport in Sofia.
For questions and assistance with regards to Bulgarian entry visas, please
contact:
Ms. Anastasia Tsunizheva
International Relations Department
State Agency for Information Technology and Communications
(SAITC)
6, Gourko Str.
1000 Sofia,
Republic of Bulgaria
Tel.: +359 2 949 2451
Fax: +359 2 949 2806
E-mail: atsunizheva
(at) daits.government.bg
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5. Vaccinations and Medical Insurance
There are no special vaccination requirements for entry into
Bulgaria. However, it is highly recommended that delegates be
covered by medical insurance and carry proof of such cover.
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6. Currency/Exchange/Credit Cards
The national monetary unit in Bulgaria is the Lev (pl. a;
BGN).
Credit cards are accepted in banks, most of the hotels, tourist
agencies and shopping malls. ATM machines are also available. For
cash exchange the rate in leva is higher than for credit cards.
The following exchange rates were valid on 29 May 2008:
1 EUR - 1.95583 Lev or BGN
1 USD - 1.24925 Lev or BGN
1 GBP - 2.4659 Lev or BGN
1 CHF - 1.2032 Lev or BGN
A number of exchange offices are open every day including Sundays
and public holidays. It is advisable to exchange money in the hotels
or in the official bank and exchange offices rather than making a
deal with individuals. Banks Banks are normally open Monday to
Friday from 8h30 to 17h00. Some banks are also open until 2 p.m. on
Saturdays. All banks exchange currency. |
7. Climate
The climate in Sofia is moderate continental and mountainous. The
temperature in Sofia in October averages 6°−17° Celsius.
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8. Electrical Appliances
Mains electricity in Bulgaria is 220V / 50Hz.
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9. Time
Local time in Bulgaria is EET; (CET +1); (GMT +2).
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10. Transport
A public transport network (busses, trams, metro, trolleys and
taxis) operates in the city. Taxi can be ordered from the hotel or
restaurant. They render good service at comparatively good prices,
which are slightly different depending on the taxi company:
Initial tax = 0.60 BGN
- 0.59 BGN/km during the day;
0.70 BGN/km during the night;
Additional 0.50 BGN will be charged to call a taxi by phone. |
11. ShopsNormally shops in Sofia are open from 10 a.m.
until 19:30 p.m. Only local currency is accepted in the shops.
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12. Contact Information
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Local Contacts in Bulgaria |
Ms.
Julieta Tencheva
International Relations Department
State Agency for Information Technology and Communications
(SAITC)
6, Gourko Str.
1000 Sofia,
Republic of Bulgaria
Tel.: +359 2 949 2663
Fax: +359 2 949 2806
E-mail: jtencheva
(at) daits.government.bg
For entry visa assistance:
Ms. Anastasia Tsunizheva
International Relations Department
State Agency for Information Technology and Communications
(SAITC)
6, Gourko Str.
1000 Sofia,
Republic of Bulgaria
Tel.: +359 2 949 2451
Fax: +359 2 949 2806
E-mail: atsunizheva
(at) daits.government.bg
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ITU Contact in the Region |
Countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) requiring assistance to attend the meeting should contact:
Mr. Andrei Untila
ITU Area Office for CIS
Moscow, Russian Federation
Tel.: +7 495 540 6072
E-mail: andrei.untila
(at) itu.int with copy to cybmail
(at) itu.int.
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Contact for Fellowship Applications |
For questions regarding fellowships and assistance in applying
for a fellowship (eligible countries in the CIS only), please contact the
Fellowships Service at:
Tel.: +41 22 730 5487
Fax: +41 22 730 5778
E-mail: bdtfellowships (at) itu.int with copy to cybmail
(at) itu.int.
Once the online fellowship form has been completed, print it out
before submitting online. Have the form signed the approving officer of your administration, get the form stamped (official stamp of the administration)
and when completed, you may either scan it and e-mail it to bdtfellowships (at) itu.int or fax it to +41 22 730 5778.
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ITU Contact for General Queries Regarding the Forum |
For general enquiries regarding the event contact:
Ms. Christine Sund
ICT Applications and Cybersecurity Division
Policies and Strategies Department
ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau
Geneva, Switzerland
Tel.: +41 22 730 5203
Fax: +41 22 730 5484
E-mail: christine.sund
(at) itu.int with copy to cybmail
(at) itu.int.
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13. Accommodation and Airport TransfersPlease note that the
hotel booking form and booking of
transfers from the airport to the respective hotel needs to be
returned by e-mail or fax to SEMA Holidays - Official Tour
Operator by 20 September.
SEMA Holidays - Official Tour Operator
1 Graf Ignatiev St., 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Tel.: +359 2 986 5385; 981 0826
Fax: +359 2 980 8032; 980 8429
E-mail: info (at) semaholidays.com
download
the hotel and airport transfer booking form here.
* Rates are in EURO per room per day and include buffet
breakfast and all local taxes.
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Name
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Location / contact
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Rates
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Reservation deadline
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Metropolitan Hotel Sofia |
Metropolitan Hotel Sofia ****
64 Tsarigradsko shose Blvd.
1784 Sofia, Bulgaria
Tel.: +359 2 4191 941
Fax: +359 2 4191 909
Website:
www.metropolitanhotelsofia.com
The Metropolitan Hotel Sofia is located at the eastern gate of Sofia City, on the main highway to E80, in the triangle of the roads to the city center, Sofia Airport and Business Park Sofia. The new 4-star hotel is the closest accommodation & conference venue to Sofia Airport – at only 10 minutes by car from the airport.
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Single Room: 85.00 euro/night, breakfast included.
Double Room:
120.00 euro/night, breakfast included.
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Best Western Expo Hotel |
Best Western Expo Hotel ****
Best Western Expo Hotel ****
149 Tsarigradsko Shose Blvd., 1784 Sofia, Bulgaria
Tel.: +359 2 81781
Fax: +359 2 974 3090
Website: www.hotelexposofia.com
Located only 4 minutes drive from Sofia International Airport, 15 minutes drive from the city center, and a step away from the International Exhibition Center. The hotel offers fully equipped, luxurious rooms, conference and banquet facilities and an elegant restaurant. At the Best Western Hotel Expo you can choose from 90 luxurious bedrooms, including 9 exclusively decorated suites. |
Single Room: 75.00 euro/night, breakfast included.
Double Room:
90.00 euro/night, breakfast included. |
Final bookings for Best Western Expo Hotel need to be made
by 29 August 2008. |
Airport to Hotel to Airport Transfer Airport - Hotel – Airport
Price list:
15 EUR per car / 1 person in a car
20 EUR per car / 2 persons in a car
25 EUR per car / 3 persons in a car
Please note that the hotel booking form and booking of
transfers from the airport to the respective hotel needs to be
returned by e-mail or fax to SEMA Holidays - Official Tour
Operator by 20 September.
download the hotel and airport transfer booking form here. |
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