The WSIS PrepCom-2 meeting is open to:

Information concerning the accreditation arrangements for participation of non-governmental organizations, civil society and business entities is available on the WSIS website at: https://www.itu.int/net/wsis/participation/accreditation/index.html

At PrepCom-2, a limited number of fellowships will be available to government representatives from developing countries (with special emphasis on least developed countries, LDCs) as well as for representatives from civil society. Information concerning the conditions and procedures for these fellowships is available on the WSIS website at: https://www.itu.int/net/wsis/preparatory2/pc2/index.html

Accreditation to the WSIS PrepCom-2 meeting is required in order to obtain a press badge and thereby gain admission to the meeting. Media accreditation will open on 15 December. The procedure for media accreditation along with the form to complete can be found at https://www.itu.int/newsroom/accredit/wsis/procedure.html. Media information on the meeting will be available at https://www.itu.int/net/wsis/newsroom/2/pc2/ from early February.

Media badges for PrepCom-2 will be available from 16 February 2005, 08:30 at the WSIS Media accreditation desk of the Montbrillant Building of ITU Headquarters². Please note that the confirmation letter sent upon acceptance of media accreditation should be presented at the desk together with one form of photo identification, in order to receive WSIS Media badges.

The provisional timetable of PrepCom-2 will be published in due course on the WSIS website at: https://www.itu.int/net/wsis/preparatory2/pc2/index.html 

Business hours are as follows: 17-18 & 21-25 February: 10:00-13:00 & 15:00-18:00

Participants requiring a visa in order to enter Switzerland are reminded that they must obtain the visa before travelling to Switzerland. Persons from countries in which Switzerland is not represented (by an Embassy or Consulate) must obtain their visas in a third country.

The Swiss authorities have introduced new measures concerning visas. Visas are no longer issued at the airport, other than in exceptional circumstances to persons from countries in which Switzerland has no representation (Embassy or Consulate), and then solely on presentation of documentary evidence, such as a mission order from their administration or an official letter of invitation, to the effect that the person concerned is attending a meeting organized under the auspices of ITU.

The ITU Secretariat can assist participants who have difficulty in obtaining a visa. An official request signed by the responsible person of the entity to be represented should be submitted to the ITU Secretariat (fax No. +41 22 730 6443) providing applicant details as follows:

Requests must be submitted on official headed paper, must be signed and stamped by the entity to be represented, and must be accompanied by a copy of the national passport of the applicant. Your request will be processed subject to receipt of the above-mentioned information, at least 15 days before departure.

Neither ITU nor the WSIS Executive Secretariat can intervene to assist with requests to have entry visas to Switzerland issued at the airport.

Pre-registration is strongly advised in order to avoid delays upon arrival at the meeting.

Registration for PrepCom-2 will begin on 5 January 2005. Participants should be registered on-line at https://www.itu.int/net/wsis/preparatory2/pc2/index.html   by Designated Focal Points for participation in the WSIS preparatory process and the Summit. A username and password is required to access the on-line system, which will be provided in due course by the Secretariat to your Focal Point.

The registration and badging desk will be located at the ITU Montbrillant building³ and will be open at the following times:

Pre-registered persons are requested to proceed to the registration desk and present an official identity document (e.g. passport or driving license) to obtain their badge.

Persons who have not registered before the event should proceed to the registration desk where they will be required to produce documentary evidence attesting to their employer (name of Administration or provisionally accredited entity/organization they are representing and its address) in order to obtain their badge. A special registration desk will be reserved for accredited media representatives.

The PrepCom-2 badge will also provide access to the open Plenary Meeting of the Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG), scheduled for Monday, 14 February 1100 to 1300 hours and to the Open Consultations of the WGIG, scheduled for Tuesday/Wednesday 15 and 16 February 1000 to 1300 and 1500 to 1800 hours.⁴

Please refer to section 5 for information on media participation.

There is no registration fee for PrepCom-2. Airfare, hotel and miscellaneous expenses shall be borne by the participant.

All participants need an official badge and personal identity document with photo to enter the Palais des Nations.

Participants without hand luggage may access the building through the Place des Nations and Pregny gates. Participants carrying hand luggage (briefcases, laptops) may access the building through the Pregny gate only. Suitcases are not permitted.

Official documents for PrepCom-2 will be available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

The provisional agenda and official documents will be available on the WSIS website at: https://www.itu.int/net/wsis/preparatory2/pc2/index.html 

Upon registration, the Document Distribution Service will provide each participant with a complete set of documents. Further documentation will be made available in the meeting room(s).

Simultaneous interpretation will be available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish in the plenary and sub-committee meetings. Interpretation in French, English and Spanish is available for major civil society meetings.

Seating will follow the UN practice. Each State will have two seats at table and two seats behind in the plenary hall of the meeting. Observers will have one seat each. Additional free seating will be available at the back of the room and on the balcony. Seating in the plenary and other meeting room(s) will be in the English alphabetical order.

If you wish to reserve a meeting room in the Palais des Nations, please contact Ms Danièle Boccard (e-mail : daniele.boccard@itu.int).

A self-service cloakroom is available at the entrance of the "Salle de l’Assemblée" , building A, of the Palais de Nations. The area is not monitored and neither the UN, the ITU nor the WSIS Executive Secretariat can be held responsible for any loss or theft, which may occur.

Participants are expected to make their own accommodation arrangements. A list of hotels in Geneva and the surrounding area that accord special rates to participants of UN meetings is available at the WSIS website at: https://www.itu.int/net/wsis/practical/travel.html

The climate in Geneva in February is cold, with daytime temperature averaging around 0 – 8º C.

The electrical current in Switzerland is 220 V/50 Hz.

To call a taxi, dial 022 33 141 33. Buses 5, 8, 11, 14, 18, 28, F, V and Z stop at Place des Nations, as well as trams 13 and 15. Tickets must be bought at the bus and tram stops (correct change only) before boarding the bus or tram. A standard ticket for the Geneva city area costs 3.00 Swiss francs. Weekly passes valid for buses, trams, boat taxis (mouettes) and regional trains are available. Buses 18 and 28 connect to the airport from the Place des Nations. For more information, see: http://www.tpg.ch/Internet+TPG/Anglais/EHomepage/Accueil.htm 

Trains are available from Cornavin station, connected by buses 5, 11, 8, F, V and Z as well as Trams 13 and 15. The closest train station is Sécheron, next to WMO and Jardin Botanique from where Regional trains run to Cornavin and Nyon. For more information: http://www.sbb.ch/en/ 

Parking restrictions are in force in the streets adjacent to the Palais des Nations. To avoid fines, participants are advised to respect these restrictions, particularly in the area adjacent to the Palais des Nations main entrance. Limited parking facilities will be made available in the surrounding area and places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Two UBS banks are located in the Palais des Nations: 1) door 6, building S: open from Monday to Friday 8.30-16.30; 2) door 41, building E, open: 8.30-2.30 and 13.30-16.30. For more information, see: https://www.itu.int/net/wsis/docs2/pc2/venue.html 

The post office is located at Door 6, building S. Only UN stamps may be used here. Opening hours: 8.30-17.00. For more information, see: https://www.itu.int/net/wsis/docs2/pc2/venue.html 

For information on the cafes, bars and restaurants in the Palais des Nations, see: https://www.itu.int/net/wsis/docs2/pc2/venue.html