The Fifty-ninth Session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean is scheduled to take place in the World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo, Egypt, from Monday 1 to Thursday 4 October 2012 inclusive. The inaugural session will take place in the Kuwait Conference Hall on Monday, 1 October 2012 at 09.00 a.m.

Representatives and observers

The meeting will be attended by one Representative of each of the Members participating in the Session. The Representatives may be accompanied by alternates and advisers (Rule 1 of the Rules of Procedure).

Observers of the United Nations, the United Nations Development Programme, some of the Specialized Agencies, certain other organs of the United Nations, the League of Arab States, the African Union, and a number of other inter-governmental and nongovernmental organizations in official relations with WHO, as well as observers from some national health institutions, will also attend.

Secretariat

The Regional Director is ex-officio Secretary of the Committee (Rule 17 of the Rules of Procedure). The WHO Director-General will also attend the first part of the session.

Agenda and other documents for the session

In conformity with Rule 7 of the Rules of Procedure, the Provisional Agenda for the Session (Document EM/RC59/1) is now being sent to Members of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean together with the invitation letter.

Complete sets of documents in Arabic, English and French, relevant to Agenda items, will be sent to Members of the Committee well in advance of the Session, will be posted on the Regional Office web site and will also be available to the Head of Delegation in the Conference Room.

Technical discussions

A Chairman will be elected to preside over the Technical Discussions. Background documents on the subject of the technical discussions are being prepared (EM/RC59/Tech.Disc.1) and will be despatched with the documents for the Session.

Interpretation

Arabic, English and French are the official languages of the Regional Committee (Rule 21 of the Rules of Procedure). Simultaneous interpretation will therefore be provided in these three languages. Representatives who have prepared written statements will greatly facilitate the work of the Session if they will be kind enough to give advance copies to the Conference Secretariat, at least 48 hours before the beginning of the meeting.

Arrangements and facilities

Reception on arrival

Provided that sufficient notice is given, delegations will be met on arrival at Cairo International Airport and will be assisted with transport directly to the hotel.

In order to make arrangements for reception at the airport, as well as for transportation to the hotel, it is important that Representatives and other participants fax their flight details, date and exact time of arrival by 31 August 2012, at the very latest using (Annex A ). Correspondence may be addressed as follows:

World Health Organization
Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean
Monazamet El Seha El Alamia Str,
Extension of Abdel Razak El Sanhouri Street
P.O. Box 7608, Nasr City
Cairo 11371, Egypt
Telephone: (+202) 26702535/22765000
Fax: (+202) 26702492/94
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Entry visa to Egypt

Representatives and other participants should obtain visa for Egypt prior to departure from their home countries. Should any assistance be required, they should contact either the WHO Representative or the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme in their countries. Meanwhile, this Office is prepared to assist participants from countries where consular authorities of Egypt are not available, in obtaining their visa on arrival at the airport provided full details are faxed at least 2 months in advance (1 August 2012) to obtain necessary visa (Annex C ).

Privileges and immunities

All Members officially attending the Regional Committee in Cairo as well as their alternates and advisers will enjoy the privileges and immunities granted to Representatives at meetings convened by UN Specialized Agencies, which are set out in the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies.

Health requirements on arrival/departure

According to the WHO International Travel and Health Requirements, the Government of Egypt does not require any vaccination certificates from international travellers except for those coming from yellow fever-infected areas. However, kindly also check with the travel agent or airline concerned in your country regarding any developments in health requirements.

Hotel accommodation

Block hotel reservations have been made at Intercontinental Citystars Hotel. The preferential rates agreed upon are listed here under:

Intercontinental Citystars Hotel
Omar Ibn El Khattab Street
PO Box 1026, Cairo 11737
Tel: ++20-2-24800 100
Fax: ++20-2-24800 200

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental/en/gb/locations/overview/cairo-citystars

Room type	US$
Single standard room	110
Club InterContinental single room	180
Business suite	200
Executive suite	250
Diplomatic suite	280
Karnak Presidential Suite	4000
Luxor Presidential Suite	5000

All above rates are:

Based on accommodation only

Subject to supplement of US$ 30.00 for double occupancy per room, per night.

Subject to 12% service charge, 10% sales tax and 1% municipal tax.

Club InterContinental floors benefits:

Exclusive check-in and check-out area (on the 12th floor)

Complimentary Club InterContinental buffet breakfast from 6.30 AM to 11.00 PM

Afternoon tea from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM & daily happy hours from 07:00 to 09:00 PM at Club InterContinental Lounge.

Complimentary pressing of 3 items

Complimentary late check-out till 4:00 PM.

Special benefits granted to all room types

Complimentary use of fitness centre

All rooms and suites are equipped with tea/coffee making facilities, iron and ironing board and business desk

Complimentary high speed internet access

Meal prices

Breakfast buffet US$ 28

Lunch or dinner buffet US$ 35
(Inclusive of service charge and Sales Tax)

The current exchange rate is EGP 6.03 per 1 US$ which is subject to change should there be a revision in rates.

All above expenses are the direct responsibility of persons lodging in the hotel and should be settled individually.

It is important that requests for hotel accommodation be sent to the Regional Office together with the enclosed hotel registration form (Annex B ) not later than 30 August 2012.

Hotel bookings will be arranged as and when requests are received and participants will be advised by return about action taken. It is also important that requests for hotel accommodation be sent complete with the exact duration of stay and number of room bookings to be made, as well as whether each room or suite should be for single or double occupancy.

Transportation

In addition to transport on arrival and departure, transport will be provided for any official functions which are held away from the hotel and also for daily transportation from the hotel to the site of the meeting and back again.

Currency and banking facilities

Travellers cheques and foreign currency can be exchanged at the hotel or at any bank in Cairo. The hotel bank is open 24 hours. Foreign currency in the form of travellers cheques and/or notes may be brought into the country. Foreign currency brought in may be exchanged for local currency through banks and authorized dealers in foreign currency. Major credit cards are accepted in most establishments.

Travel Services

Participants are strongly advised to have their return flights confirmed before departing for Egypt, as onward reservations and deviations may be difficult to obtain at short notice.

Communication Services

During the period of the Session, communications should be addressed as follows:

World Health Organization
Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean
Monazamet El Seha El Alamia Str,
Extension of Abdel Razak El Sanhouri Street
P.O. Box 7608, Nasr City
Cairo 11371, Egypt
Telephone: (+202) 26702535/22765000
Fax: (+202) 26702492/94
e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Departure tax

Departure tax is directly included in the price of your ticket.

Mailing of documents

The Secretariat will be pleased, at the end of the Session, to assist in mailing documents to participants in their home countries. The documents should have clearly marked labels provided by the Secretariat with the name and full address of the participant, and should be left in the Conference Room.

Climate

In October the weather is expected to be warm during the day and cold in the evening. Temperatures during this time of the year range between a maximum of 30ºC and a minimum of 17ºC.