RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(01)/INF/11
23 October  2001
(01-5197)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Fourth Session
Doha, 9 – 13 November 2001
WTO MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Note on the Second Information Meeting
held on 11 October 2001
INTRODUCTION1. A second Information Meeting was organized on 11 October 2001 at the WTO on the logistical
arrangements for the Ministerial Conference.  H.E. Sheikh Hamad Bin Faysal Al-Thani, Chairman of
the Organizing Committee, Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Khol aifi, Vice-Chairman, Shei kh Abdulla Bin Ahmad
Al-Thani, as well as other representatives from Qatar,  Ambassador Sheikh Fahad Awaida Al-Thani,
Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations at Geneva and other members of
the Mission in Geneva were present.
2. Mr. J.E. Chabert, Chairman of the WTO Task Force opened the meeting and welcomed the
representatives from Qatar and the participants.
3. The Organizing Committee (OC) gave a presentation which covered the different points
mentioned hereafter.  Participants were informed that the majority of accommodation  requests had
now been processed as well as the other requests for visas, meeting rooms, etc.  The WTO Secretariat
would send Detailed Reports to each delegation without delay.  These Reports have been prepared by
the OC on the basis of information received from  delegations. The OC stressed that any missing
information should be submitted as soon as possible.  Many requests were held up becausephotographs were missing, photocopies of passports , details of arrival and departure times, etc.
4. At the time of the meeting 101 Member States had replied, 21 Observer countries, 44 Observer
International Inter-governmental organizations, 418 representatives from NGOs and 660 individuals
from the Press had been registered.
ACCOMMODATION
5. The OC has made the decision on how the rooms were to be allocated, whether it be hotels, villas
or apartments.  All types of accommodation have hotel services. The distribution of rooms has been
done in a fair manner with several factors being taken into account, such as the size of the delegation,
their budget and if the OC received the completed forms by the deadline.  Taking this into account it
was not possible to allocate a single hotel to one delegation, in particular large ones, therefore, mostdelegations are divided between more than one location. In this respect, the location ofWT/MIN(01)/INF/11
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accommodation may not necessarily correspond to a delegation’s choice. It was also necessary to
allocate a few double bedrooms to large delegations.  It is now essential that the delegations notify the
Organizing Committee of who goes where in their delegation, including the double rooms.  Thisshould be done by 19 October 2001, otherwise the Organizing Committee would have to make the
distribution themselves. The information should be sent to:
Organizing Committee of the 4
th WTO Ministerial Conference
P.O. Box: 22240 Doha, Qatar
Tel. (00974) 4830600
Fax (00974) 4830923
6. There will be a contact person at the residences/hotels.  This person’s duties include helping
delegations with any arrangements that they may need. The names of these persons would be
communicated later.
VISAS
7. A confirmation document of the visa requests will be faxed shortly to the delegation co-
ordinators.  This confirmation document will facilitate travel procedures.  Further to enquires from
delegations the OC said that this document will be sufficient to board planes even in view of tight
security in place at the present time.  IATA would be informed about this procedure.
8. Once the delegations have their confirmation of hotels they can proceed to get their visa from
Qatari Missions or Embassies if they have not applied for it through the procedure with Form G in the
Box File.  The Detailed Reports indicate the location of visa issue.
9. A list of all the Qatari Embassies is attached.
AIR TRAVEL
10. Direct flights have been organized by Qatar Airways from Geneva to Doha on both 6 and
7 November 2001. The return flight from Doha to Geneva will be on 14 November.  Delegateswishing to have further  information on air travel may contact a representative of Qatar Airways as
follows:
Geneva  - Wednesdays and Thursdays, Tel. +4122 747 75 44.
Paris – Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays, tel. +331 58 22 20 03
11. With  regard to private flights, delegates were informed that the current international regulations
are accepted in Qatar.
12. Luggage tags will shortly be distributed to delegations by the WTO Secretariat.  These tags will
facilitate baggage handling on arrival and departure.
GROUND TRANSPORT
13. Ministers and Heads of Delegations will have a chauffeur-driven car at their disposal on a 24 hour
basis from their arrival.  These cars will have access to all locations.WT/MIN(01)/INF/11
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14. Delegates who have pre-booked cars would be guided to their cars upon arrival at the airport or at
their residence/hotel, as required.  These vehicles would be provided with security passes that wouldallow them into the residences/hotels but not into the secure zone around the Conference Centre.
From the perimeter of the secure zone there would be a shuttle centre hub.  From there buses wouldoperate approximately every 15 minutes to the Conference Centre and return.  Delegates would be let
off from any authorized car at this point.
15. It should be noted that no vehicles will be allowed into the secure zone except cars assigned to the
Ministers and Heads of Delegations and the residence bus service vehicles.
16. There will be a bus service from the airport to take delegates to their residences/hotels.  A list of
all residences/hotels with corresponding bus stop numbers will be displayed at the airport. Delegates
would consult the list and proceed to the bus stop identified by the relevant number.  The return
journey would be done in a similar way using th e airport bus stop near each residence/hotel.
17. From the residences/hotels there will be a shuttle bus service to the Conference Centre. To return
to their residences/hotels delegates would proceed in a similar manner.  A residence bus stop listwould be displayed at a prominent location at the Conference Centre.
18.  Transport from hotel to hotel will not operate but delegates will be able to go to the hub and from
there get transport to the different hotels  Alternatively, hotels would have a 24-hour limousine
service which delegates can use as required.
19. Only one official car from Embassies in Qatar will be allowed through the security zone if they
are officially recognized (special pass, official flag).
SECURITY/BADGES
20. The OC informed delegations that security measures will be very strict at all times, therefore,
security badges should be clearly visible especially when boarding buses.
21. Security badges will be distributed to delegates on arrival at the residences/hotels.  In principle,
they will be handed to the Delegation Co-ordinator for distribution within their delegation.
OTHER POINTS
22. There will be a computer area for the use of delegates in the Exhibition Centre (which is located
very close to the Convention Centre) as well as a cybercafe in the Convention Centre itself.
23. An accompanying persons programme is presently being prepared by the OC and it will be
distributed to delegations as soon as available.
24. Credit card guarantee was required for the reservation of a rented car, however, in case of
cancellation any amount debited would be credit to the card holder.
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