RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(99)/INF/9
4 November 1999
(99-4769)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Third SessionSeattle, 30 November – 3 December 1999
WTO MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Note on the Second Information Meeting
held on 18 October 1999
INTRODUCTION
1. A second Information Meeting was organized on 18 October 1999 at the WTO on the preparation
of the Ministerial Conference to be held in Seattle. Mr. A. Stoler, Deputy Chief of USTR (Geneva),
Mr. J.E. Chabert, Chairman of the WTO Task Force, as well as other members of the Secretariat were
present.
2. Mr. Chabert opened the meeting, welcomed the participants and invited them to ask questions.
He introduced a number of topics pertaining to the Conference.
3. Mr. Stoler made an introductory statement.  He also  stressed  how important it was for
Delegations who had not yet made their travel or hotel reservations to do so without delay. (see
Annex I for contact numbers).
4. Since the meeting took place the Secretariat has received clarification on a number of issues and
included them in the paragraphs below.
CONVENTION CENTRE
5. Use of the Convention Centre will be made available partly from 27 November and full use of the
Centre from 28 November 1999.
6. The layout of the floor plans are at present being finalized.  Once the Secretariat receives them
they will be made available to Delegations.
7. All participants (including Ministers) will enter and exit the Conference Centre through the same
side of the building but through separate gates.
8. The number of seats attributed to each delegation in the meeting rooms would be according to the
normal WTO practice, taking into account their respective size and the total number of seats in each
room.WT/MIN(99)/INF/9
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9. There will be some 12 meeting rooms available for bilateral meetings.  These rooms may be
reserved already through the WTO Conference Office.  Other larger meeting rooms for official
working sessions will be available, with a capacity ranging from 300 to 600 seats.
HOTELS
10.  Regarding whether taxes were payable on hotel rooms, the Secretariat has been informed by the
US authorities that individual delegates will have to pay taxes. The only way a Delegate can forgo
room taxes is if that person’s Embassy in Washi ngton DC, is tax exempt and the Embassy pays the
hotel bill with an Embassy cheque or credit card.  Those countries that are exempt are aware of this.
11. With regard to cancellation fees, some Delegations have been given to understand that
cancellation fees will not be charged in the case of small adjustments to the number of rooms reservedand that cancellation fees will be levied only where block reservations (for an entire delegation) are
cancelled.  The Housing Bureau in Seattle has informed the WTO that in the event of minor changes,
they will work with the delegations to mitigate any cancellation fees that may be incurred.  This
would be done purely as a “favour” and cannot be guaranteed, as it will ultimately require the co-
operation of the individual hotels.  The official policy, and general practice, is to levy a cancellationfee on any cancellation made after 1 October 1999.
12. For security reasons a list of hotels where Delegations are staying will only be available at the
time of the Conference.
TRANSPORT
13. In order to arrange security measures and airport arrivals/departures, Delegates are requested to
communicate the travel schedules of their Ministers and Heads of Delegations to the:
WTO Housing Bureau (Seattle Host Organisation)
Telephone    206 695 1956,
Fax   206 441 6369
e-mail: wtohousing@crgnet.com
14. Each Head of Delegation and each Deputy Head and accompanying Minister(s) will be met at the
airport in Seattle by chauffeur driven cars and escorted along with their luggage to their hotels.  Headsof intergovernmental organizations will be treated like Ministers.
15. Shuttle coaches will operate frequently between the airport/hotels/Convention Centre/official
functions.  The service will begin on 27 November and, depending on departure dates, could be
extended beyond the end of the Conference.
16. For Delegations that will rent a dedicated car for their Minister, the US Secret Service will be
issuing all vehicular licences for the events and will require vehicles to be screened individually
before entry to the Convention Centre and other venues.  Application can only be made in person with
the Secret Service once Delegations are in Seattle.  Contact information will be made available prior
to the Conference.
For rental of a dedicated limousine, please contact:
Always Affordable Limousine 206-617-7767
Carey Limousine/Carey Cars 206-762-3517
American Airport Express 206-216-0600
American Unique Limousine Service 206-720-5669
Ashton Limousine 425-455-4008Bayview Limousine Services, Inc. 206-824-9884WT/MIN(99)/INF/9
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British Motor Coach, Inc. 206-283-6600
Checker Transportation 206-622-1234
ExpressCar 206-622-1424
Seattle Limousine 206-762-3394
Washington Limousine, Inc. 206-523-8000
17. There will be a car pool will consist of some 50 cars with drivers.  The intent of this pool is to
provide transportation on a first-come, first-served basis to Ministers and Heads of Delegations, only
for official matters.  It would not be unreasonable to book a car a day ahead of time.  However, it
would not be possible for any one delegation to book a car a day ahead for the same period of time
each day.
SECURITY
18. The responsibility for the security of individual Ministers will be in accordance with written
guidance from the US authorities; any country provid ing their own security details must inform the
US Embassy’s Regional Security Officer in their country.  They must also inform their Embassy in
Washington, DC. The Embassy must then advise the Of fice of Protocol at the Department of State in
Washington, DC.  The same procedure should be foll owed if weapons are being brought into the US.
The process begins with the Regional Security Officer.  If a Delegation is arriving via special
flight/aircraft, the Department of State’s Bureau of Political Affairs must be notified.  All of these
requirements should be coordinated by the Embassy in Washington through the State Department’s
Office of Protocol.
19. The US Secret Service will provide picture identity badges for all security staff and these badges
will be distributed at a separate location, yet to be announced.
20. Some Delegates raised the question about possible demonstrations taking place. The Secretariat
has been informed that the US Security and Police force have taken measures to ensure the security of
participants and staff.  An area around the Convention Centre will be blocked off.  Access to this area
will be to badge holders only.
21. Access to the different areas in the Convention Centre will depend on the type of badge the holder
has.  Security agents of the Ministers will be subject to special arrangements between the country
concerned and the US.
VISAS
22. A few questions on visas were raised.  As each visa request may vary, Geneva-based delegations
are advised to contact the US Embassy in Berne (Ms. Albala, Tel. 031 357 7494, Fax 031 357 7398).The visas are issued free of charge.  At least a week should be foreseen from the time of the request
for the issuance of the visa .  It is important to note that visas cannot be issued on arrival in
Seattle . The usual period of validity for a visa is three months.  See Annex II for details.
23. Non-Geneva based delegations should make a request through the nearest US Embassy in their
country of assignment.
OTHER
24. The distribution of Conference badges will be done at the Sheraton Hotel except for those of the
NGOs which will be done at the Madison Hotel.  One member of a Delegation should be made
responsible for the collection of the badges for their particular Delegation.WT/MIN(99)/INF/9
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25. Liaison Officers will be assigned to each Delegation.  They will be available from the arrival of
the Head of Delegation, but not prior to 26 November 1999.
26. Requests for the rental of cell phones, computers or any other equipment should be addressed to:
WTO Housing Bureau (Seattle Host Organisation),
Telephone    206 695 1956,Fax   206 441 6369
e-mail: wtohousing@crgnet.com
27. The Ministerial Conference will be preceded by the “Seattle Symposium on International Trade
Issues in the First Decade of the Next Century”.  Persons holding Ministerial Conference badges may
attend this Symposium.
28. Concerning the participation of the Least-Developed Countries at the Conference, the Host
country will cover the cost of hotel accommodation and 50% of the UN per diem rate for a Minister
plus one person.  Reservations in this respect had been made at the Hilton Hotel from their anticipated
arrival on 28 November until their departure on 4 December 1999.  The WTO is making every
endeavour to help finance the LDCs travel expenses.  The Director-General has sent letters topotential contributors encouraging them to help in th is respect.  The primary concern is to finance the
Minister plus one; it is unlikely that funds may be raised to cover the costs of one Minister plus two
persons.  As soon as replies to these requests are received, the Members will be informed.
29. Prior to the Opening of the Ministerial Conference there will be an Information Meeting for
participants, on Monday, 29 November 1999 at a time to be set.
30. The Secretariat will distribute baggage tags to Delegations shortly.
31. A social programme for accompanying persons has been foreseen.  The printed programme will
be available very soon.  However, in the meantime this programme may be consulted on the website:
http://www.wtoseattle.com/visitingseattle/guesttours.htm .
SOCIAL EVENTS
32. The following events are foreseen:
29 November 1999 Opening Reception at the Stadium Exhibition Center
from 6.30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
(for all official participants, spouses, accompanying persons,
NGOs representatives, members of the Press, VIPs and
Seattle Host Organisation guests).
 November 1999 Dinner at the Mu seum of Flight at 8 p.m.
(for Ministers, Heads of Delegation and Heads of
international organizations and Seattle Host Organisation
guests).
1 December 1999 Reception at the Sheraton Hotel from 7 p.m. hosted by the
Director-General of the WTO(for Ministers, Heads of Delegation and Heads of
international organizations)WT/MIN(99)/INF/9
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2 December 1999 Closing Reception/Arts Night at Seattle Center at 7 p.m.
(for all official participants, spouses, accompanying persons
and Seattle Host Organisation guests).
33. All Ministers and Heads of Delegations, as well as Heads of intergovernmental organizations, will
receive an invitation to the Dinner for Ministers on 30 November 1999.  The same will apply for theDirector-General’s reception.
Delegations are welcome to contact the Secretariat for any other questions that they may have as
follows:
739 54 01 Task Force
739 55 16 Conference Office739 51 37 Opening Ceremony, Plenary, list of speakers for Plenary and Closing
739 54 23 Ministerial Working Sessions
739 52 86 Press
739 56 76 NGOs/NGO SymposiumWT/MIN(99)/INF/9
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ANNEX I
CONTACTS NUMBERS
Hotel accommodation
WTO Housing Bureau  (Seattle Host Organisation)
Telephone (206) 695 1956
(888) 571 6066 (from the United States and Canada)
Fax (206) 441 6369e-mail: wtohousing@crgnet.com
web registration www.wtoseattle.org
Meeting space
Ms. Parker
Telephone (206) 441 6448
Fax (206) 441 6369
e-mail mparker@crgnet.com
Transport/enquiries about the airport
Mr. Parks
Telephone (206) 433 4635
Fax (206) 439 7710
e-mail: parks.e@portseattle.orgWT/MIN(99)/INF/9
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ANNEX II
INFORMATION ON VISAS
Communication received from the US Embassy in Berne
Visa information for Geneva-based delegations
Ms. Albala at the US Embassy in BerneTelephone 031 357 7494
Fax 031 357 7398
Other delegations should contact their nearest US Embassy in their country.Official visa requirements
- Diplomatic, official, national passport of the individual or laissez-passer.
- Two photographs per applicant.
- - Swiss residency permit.
- One application form per applicant (see attached).  Photocopies are accepted.  For originals   
please contact the Visa Section at the US Embassy.
- Note-Verbal from the relevant mission stating the purpose of the trip as well as the itinerary.
- Self-addressed envelope.
Tourist visa requirements
- Diplomatic, official or national passport.
- Two photographs per applicant
- Swiss residency permit
- One application form per applicant
- Itinerary
- Official and national passport holders should pay the amount of SFR 70.- per applicant at any
Swiss post office.  The pink payment form (free of charge) should be used to do this payment to
the following account number 30-39699-5 and the original receipt should be sent with the
application.
- Self-addressed envelope
Please allow at least one week for visa issuance.
N.B. There are no health requirements for either of visa categories .
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