General Information Package

GENERAL INFORMATION PACKAGE

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HFM-275 Symposium

“Military Suicide Prevention”

03-05 April 2017

39thHFM Panel Business Meeting

(For HFM Panel Members only)

03-06 April 2017

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Hosted in cooperation between

Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia

andRiga Stradiņš University

1. MEETING SITE

The HFM-275 Symposium and HFM 39th PBM meetings (except PBM meeting in executive format on 06 April) will be held at the Medical Education Technology Centre (METC) of the Riga Stradiņš University on 03-05 April 2017.

METCwas launched as one of the first intellectual innovation hubs in medicine and healthcare in the Baltics. The centre offers local and international medical and healthcare students the opportunity to use advanced technological features in training. METC can also be viewed as another step towards the world-class standard in medical and healthcare education that is the objective structured clinical examination used to test future doctors’ theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

26a Anniņmuižas Blvd

Riga, LV-1067

Location see on map on page 9 (#1).

The HFM 39th PBM (in Executive Format) will be held at the Latvian War Museum on 06 April 2017.

The Latvian War museum is one of the oldest and largest museums in Latvia. It was founded in 1916 as the Latvian Riflemen Museum. Since 1919 the museum is located in the Powder Tower (14th century), one of the former fortification towers of Riga.

20 Smilšu Street

Riga, LV-1050

Location see on map on page 9 (#2) and 10.

LOCAL HOSTS

Ainars STEPENS

LVA HFM Panel Principal Member

Tel: +371 29227805

e-mail:

Gunars UPITIS

LVA National Coordinator

Tel: +371 67335259

e-mail:

Maris TAUBE

LVA HFM Panel Member,

HFM-275 Programme Committee Member

Tel: +371 2 6599434

e-mail:

POINT OF CONTACT

Liva BERZINA

Senior Desk Officer,

Military Education and Science Division, MoD

Tel: +371 67335083

e-mail:

NATO STO CSO: HFM Panel Office

7 Rue Ancelle

92200 Neuilly sur Seine Cedex, France

LtCol Frank WESSELS

HFM Panel Executive

Tel: +33 1 5561 2260

e-mail:

Mrs. Marie LINET

HFM Panel Assistant

Tel: +33 1 55 61 2262

e-mail:

2. MEETING ARRANGEMENTS

Registration

Registration starts on Monday 03April 2017 from 08:00 onwards at the venue, Medical Education Technology Centre of the Riga Stradiņš University.Additional preregistration desk will be opened at the lobby of Radisson Blu Daugava Hotel from 16:00 till 18:00 on Sunday 02 April 2017.

To register, please bring valid identification documents with you.

All participants are kindly reminded to register in order to obtain a badge to gain access to the meeting area. Be sure to wear your conference badge at all meetings including social events. For security reasons, please remove your badge when leaving an event. Remember to bring your badge with you to the meetings every day.

Enrolment

On-line enrolment is mandatory via the NATO website ( to obtain access to the meeting site. Deadline for registration is: 01March 2017.

Working Language

English, simultaneous translation will not be provided.

Dress Code

Civilian business attire. Military uniform is normally not worn at the meetings.

Mobiles and laptops

Mobiles and laptops are allowed in the premises.

Internet access

A wireless internet network is available at the meeting venue.

Transportation

Bus transportation will be providedfrom hotelsRadisson Blu Daugava, Radisson Blu Latvija and Avalon Hotel to the meeting venue and back to the hotels.

Departure times from the mentioned hotels are:

-To METC on 03 April: at 07:45 for PBM participants, at 11:45 for symposium participants

-To METC on 04 – 05 April: at 07:30for all participants

-To Latvian War Museum on 06 April (only from Radisson Blu Daugava Hotel, other hotels are in walking distance): at 08:00 for PBM participants

Buses back to hotels departure after end of all meetings included in the agenda.

3. MEALS AND REFRESHMENTS

Breakfast

Breakfast is included in the room rate of the hotel.

Lunch

A business lunch will be served at the lunch restaurant Daily (located in the METC building) at the rate of 10€.Lunch tickets can be purchased upon registration.

Coffee breaks

Morning and afternoon coffee breaks will be provided at no charge for the Symposium / PBM badge holders.

Evenings

Monday, 03 April 2017

Host nation welcome reception at the restaurant Klīversala (free of charge,location see on map on page 9 (#3) and 10). The reception starts at 19:00.

Tuesday, 04 April 2017

Gala dinner for all participants and their partners at 50€ per person will take place at the restaurant Equus (location see on map on page 9 (#4) and 10).The dinner starts at 19:00.

Payment for the gala dinner is to be made upon registration in CASH (EUR). Please indicate your participation in the evening events in Attachment A before 03 March 2017.

4. Accommodation

Please note that accommodation reservations should be made directly with the hotels. Neither our Latvian hosts nor the STO will be responsible for your hotel reservations.

A block of rooms with special negotiated rates has been set aside at the hotels:

Radisson Blu Daugava****

24 Kuģu Street

Riga, LV-1050

Tel: +371 6706 1111

Location see on map on page 9 (#5) and 10.

Room rates:

-Standard class room, singleoccupancy –85€

-Standard class room,double occupancy – 90€

-Business class room – 135 €

Included: breakfast, taxes, Wi-Fi, access to fitness center, sauna and swimming pool

Deadline for reservation at these rates: 20 March 2017. After this date requests will be acceptedonly through e-mail and will be confirmed upon hotel’s availability.

Reservations at special group rate to be made by guests individually using one of options:

-Use special dedicated link on Hotel’s web page

-On Hotel’s web page insert Promotional Code LVHFMM in window “Select rate type”

Radisson Blu Latvija****

55 Elizabetes Street

Riga, LV-1010

Tel: +371 6777 2222

Location see on map on page 9 (#6) and 10.

Room rates:

-Standard class room, single occupancy –95€

-Standard class room, double occupancy – 105 €

Included: breakfast, taxes, Wi-Fi, access to fitness center, ESPA Riga

Deadline for reservation at these rates: 20 March 2017. After this date requests will be accepted only through e-mail and will be confirmed upon hotel’s availability.

Reservations at special group rate to be made by guests individually using one of options:

-Use special dedicated link on Hotel’s web page

-On Hotel’s web page Promotional Code LVHFMM in window “Select rate type”

Avalon Hotel & Conferences ****

13.Janvāra Street 19

Riga, LV-1050

Tel: +371 67169999, +371 67876530, +371 67876524

Location see on map on page 9 (#7) and 10.

Room rates (if staying for at least 3 nights):

-Standard class room, single occupancy –45 €

-Standard class room, double occupancy – 52 €

-Superior class room, single occupancy – 60 €

-Superior class room, single occupancy – 66 €

Included: buffet breakfast, taxes, Wi-Fi, coffee and tea set

Deadline for reservation at these rates: 20 March 2017. After this date reservation requests will be accepted only through e-mail and will be confirmed upon hotel’s availability per daily rates.

Reservations at special group rate to be made by guests individually. OnHotel’s web page insert Promotional CodeHFM39thPBM

5. social activities

Monday, 03 April 2017

Host nation has a pleasure to invite all participants and their partners to a welcome reception (free of charge) at the restaurant Klīversala located in the new building of the National Library of Latvia.

The new National Library building unites so much – the legend of the Castleof Light andGolden Mountain, the library itself as a building, and the place where it has been built. It narrates astory of happiness, love, wisdom and freedom. Interior of the restaurant is fully incorporated in the general concept of the Castle of Light.

3 Mūkusalas Street

Riga, LV-1423

Location see on map on page 9 (#3) and 10.

Tuesday, 04 April 2017

Gala dinner for all participants and their partners at 50€per person will take place at the restaurant Equus, Pullman Riga Old Town Hotel.

The Equus restaurant is located in the heart of Riga's historic centre occupying a magnificent building from 1789 merged together with a completely modern structure. It lies exactly in the Old Town and neighbours Dome Square, Parliament, National Theatre, Freedom Monument, and National Opera.

24 Jēkaba Street

Riga, LV-1050

Location see on map on page 9 (#4) and 10.

Dress Code: civilian business attire.

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6. AREA MAP

1 – Medical Education Technology Centre2 – Latvian War Museum3 – Restaurant Klīversala (Latvian National Library)

4 – Restaurant Equus (Pullman Riga Old Town Hotel) 5 – Radisson Blu Daugava6 – Radisso Blu Latvija

7 – Avalon Hotel & Conferences

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7. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT LATVIA AND RIGA

Situated in north-eastern Europe with a coastline along the Baltic Sea,the Republic of Latvia has land borders with Estonia, Russia, Belarus and Lithuania.Total area is 64,589 sq.km or 24,938 sq.miles.Latvia is divided into four cultural-historical regions: Vidzeme, Latgale.Kurzeme and Zemgale, Largest cities are Riga (capital), Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jūrmala, Liepāja, Rēzekne and Ventspils.

Total population is about 2 million (beginning of 2016).

Official language is Latvian. Latvians and Livs are the indigenous people of Latvia.Ethnic groups are: Latvians - 59.0 %, Russians – 28.3 %, Byelorussians – 3.7 %, Ukrainians – 2.5 %, Poles – 2.4 %, Lithuanians – 1.4 % other– 2.1 % (beginning of 2007).The ethnic mix of the population of Latvia is largely the result of massive post-war immigration, which resulted in a decline in the share of ethnic Latvians from 77% in 1935 to 52% in 1989.

The landscape of the country is marked by lowland plains and rolling hills. Most of the countryside is less than 100 metres above sea level. There are thousands of rivers and lakes in Latvia.

The capital of Latvia is Riga. Riga, the oldest still existing Latvian medieval city, was founded in 1201. Riga is Latvia’s political, economic, and cultural center, where more than one third of Latvia's population (724 thousand) lives and works. The value of Riga’s cultural and historical significance has been recognised by the fact that its Old City centre has been included in UNESCO's list of the world's most important cultural and natural sites.

Riga has hosted a NATO summit, a World Ice Hockey Championship,the Eurovision Song Contest, and many otherlarge-scale international events. In 2014, Riga was theEuropean Capital of Culture. And in the first half of 2015,Riga hosted the Latvian presidency of the Council of theEuropean Union.

For more informationabout Latvia and Riga, as well main events please visit:

8. PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Visas

For information about the documents required to enter Latvia, please ask information in your country or visit

Transport from/to airport

Riga International Airport (RIX) is situated 10km southwest of Riga Centre.

Bus No. 22:(frequency 10 - 30 minutes, journey time is about 30 minutes) has a direct service between the airport and the city centre.To get on the bus on arrival at the airport look for bus stop located opposite the terminal behind the car park P1.You will get out straight at the terminal on the 2nd level on departure. More information on

A regular ticket for one trip can be bought from the bus driver for 2€, but if you buy it before commencing your trip at the airport services and tourism information bureau "Welcome to Riga", in a ticket vending machine at the stop of Bus 22 and in Narvesen press kiosks at Level 1 and 2 of the terminal, regular one-way ticket will cost you only 1.15 €.

Minibus No.222, 241: (departs every 10-15 minutes, journey time is about 25 minutes)for a fast and convenient trip from the airport to the city centre choose minibus No.222 or 241 operated by the minibus company “Rīgas mikroautobusu satiksme”. Going from the airport to the centre, the minibus departs from P1 Parking.

A single-journey ticket can be purchased from the minibus driver for2 €, but if you purchase an e-ticket at the airport services and tourism information bureau "Welcome to Riga” in the Arrivals Sector E or at kiosks located in the terminal on the 1st and 2nd floor, regular one-way ticket will cost you only 1.15 €.

For more information on bus and minibus transportation, please visit

Taxi:Riga city and other destinations from the airport can be reached by taxi. Two main companies operating at the Riga International Airport are SIA "Baltic Taxi Lidosta" (bright green cabs, and AS "Rīgas Taksometru parks" (red cabs,

Journey time to the centre of Riga city is approximately 15 minutes.

Average cost per trip by taxi to Riga city centre is about 11.50 - 14.50€.

Transfer:Minibus service “Riga Shuttle Bus” is comfortable public transport type which connects Riga International Airport with hotels, bus and train station in Riga center.“Riga Shuttle Bus” minibus stop is located on P1 parking space in Riga International Airport right in front of E gateway doors, and minibuses leave every 30 minutes from 10:30 till 18:30. During other time minibus services are available for reservation via web-site via phone +371 23 77 73 73.

Tickets can be purchased from the driver, and costs 6 €. Journey time is about 15 minutes.

Public Transport

Public transport operates between 5:30 and 23:30. Timetables, fares and purchase information are available in Latvian, Russian and English at web-site also provides information on the price of tickets and where they can be The web-site also provides information on the price of tickets and where they can be purchased. Even though tickets can be purchased from the driver (costs 2€), it is cheaper to purchase an e-ticket at street kiosks and select shops.

It is possible to purchase an e-ticks for:

-one ride - 1.15€

-five rides - 5.75€

-ten rides - 10.90 €

-twenty rides - 20.70€.

It is also possible to purchase:

-24-hour ticket - 5 €

-three-day ticket – 10€

-five-day ticket – 15€.

An e-ticket can be used on all "Rīgas satiksme" buses, trolleys and trams, and is a modern and convenient way to pay for public transportation services in the city. An eticket allows passengers to save time, and you do not need the exact change to purchase one.

Make sure you have a valid ticket (you need to validate your e-ticket as soon as you board the vehicle). Passengers are regularly controlled, and passengers without a valid ticket are subject to penalty fare of 20 to 50€.

Timezone

The time in Latvia is UTC/GMT +3 hrs during the summer time (starting from 26th March in 2017)

Weather

In Latvia, the spring may begin already at the end of February or as late as in late April, and the spring season lasts until the beginning of June. The average air temperature in spring varies from 0 to +15 degrees.

Climate&Weather averages in Riga in April are:

-High Temp: 11 °C

-Low Temp: 2 °C

-Mean Temp: 6 °C

-Precipitation: 16.5 mm

-Humidity: 72%

-Dew Point: 1 °C

-Wind: 4 m/s

-Pressure: 1014 mbar

-Visibility: 9 km

Currency and exchange

Since January 1st, 2014, the official currency of Latvia is the Euro. There are seven different banknotes i.e €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and even €500 (not accepted everywhere). One Euro is equal to 100 Eurocent, and there are different cent coins i.e.1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 as well as euro coins i.e 1 and 2.

In Latvia, money can be exchanged at banks or exchange offices. Some banks offer the option of exchanging money at multiple currency ATMs.Currency exchange rates can vary considerably based on location, so it is recommended to compare rates before settling for the best deal.

Latvia has a solid network of accessible ATMs, but, when venturing outside the cities, taking cash out in advance is advised, before your trip. ATMs accept credit and debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Maestro and others).

Price level

The price levels in Latvia for many groups, including restaurant and hotel services, are lower than the average for European countries, and prices for groceries, nonalcoholic beverages, alcoholic and tobacco goods are some of the lowest in Europe. However, price levels may vary in the capital and regions of Latvia.

Note:

-When purchasing drinks at bars, pay close attention to the price of drinks in terms of units indicated, and if the volume is correct for the price shown.

-When using a taxi, agree on an approximate price before the trip, and always make sure the meter is switched on.

-When using public transport, buy tickets before the trip at the bus station, train station, or other ticket offices, as buying a ticket on-board can be more expensive.

-In the capital, especially in the Old Town, the price level for services can be higher than the prices for similar services outside of Riga.

Emergency services

Emergency number is 112. The call is free of charge from any telephone.

Electricity

EU standard 220 V / 50 Hz. Please ensure that you have the proper adapter (you will need a type C/F plug)for your appliances.

More info on

ATTACHMENT A

Please fill in and return this form to the point of contact by 01 March 2017 via email:

, cc:

Full Name: / ______
Country: / ______
Hotel: / Radisson Blu Daugava /
Radisson Blu Latvija /
Avalon Hotel & Conferences /
Other: / ______
Date of arrival / ____ April
Date of departure / ____ April
YES / NO
Lunch (10 €) / 03 April / /
04 April / /
05 April / /
Welcome Reception at the Restaurant Klīversala(free of charge), 03 April
Number of people attending _____ / /
Gala Dinner at the Restaurant Equus (50 € per person), 04 April
Number of people attending _____ / /

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