2

FIRST MEETING OF MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLIC SECURITY IN THE AMERCAS

October 7 and 8, 2006

Mexico City, Mexico

REV. 3

INFORMATION BULLETIN

1. Venue and date of the Meeting

The First Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Public Security in the Americas will be held on October 7 and 8, 2008, in Mexico City. All sessions will take place in the Castillo room of the Hotel Presidente Intercontinental, located at Campos Elíseos 218, México, D.F.

The inaugural session will begin at 9:00 a.m. on October 7 in the Castillo Room at the Hotel. The schedule of the working sessions of the Ministerial Meeting will be distributed in due course. It will also be available at the place where the meeting is being held.

2. National Coordination Office

The National Coordinating Office will be managed by:

Mr. José Antonio Zabalgoitia Trejo

Secretariat of Foreign Affairs

Director General of Americas Region Agencies and Mechanisms

Av. Juárez No. 20 piso 16

Colonia Centro, Delegación Cuauhtémoc

CP 06010 México, DF

Telephone: (52-55) 3686 5729

Fax: (52-55) 3686-5734

E-mail address:

Mr. Antonio Ramírez Acevedo

Secretariat of Public Security

Director General of International Affairs

Av. Constituyentes No. 947, Edif. B, Planta Baja

Colonia Belén de las Flores, Delegación Álvaro Obregón

C.P. 01110, México, DF.

Telephone: (52-55) 1103 6000 ext 11772

Fax: (52-55) 1103 6063

E-mail address:

3. Hotel

A large number of rooms have been set aside in the hotel where the meeting will be held to facilitate reservations by members of delegations. Reservation requests should be made on the following web page: https://www.turycon.com.mx/congresos/MISPA_2008/ .

Special prices have been arranged for participants at the Hotel Presidente Intercontinental. Reservation requests will only be confirmed if they come with a currently active credit card number.

Hotel Presidente Intercontinental / Room / Price
Campos Elíseos 218
Colonia Polanco
11560, México, DF.
Telephone: (52-55) 5327 7700
Fax: (52-55) 5327 7783
Laura Enríquez,
()
Telephone: (52-55) 5148 7500
/ Single or double (breakfast included)
Deluxe room
(breakfast included) / Preferential rate: US$ 155 plus 17% tax, plus US$3.50 tip **
Preferential rate: US$ 160 plus 17% tax, plus US$3.50 tip **
NO SHOW: Charged for first night
Normal rate: US$ 200 plus 17% tax. European plan, no meals.
** Does not include US$4.50 for bell boys.

Room reservations will be made strictly in the order in which they are received, based on the information provided in the application. The hotel bill must be paid directly by each participant at the end of the meeting..

Given the high demand for rooms in this hotel in Mexico City, it is recommended that reservations be made directly with the hotel as soon as possible.

In order to benefit from the special rates, all room reservations, without exception, at the Hotel Presidente Intercontinental must be confirmed by September 25. The cancellation of reservations after those dates will be subject to the provisions and practices in force in the international hotel industry.

Mexico applies a “no-show” policy whereby, once a reservation has been made, payment for the first night is obligatory.

4. Flights

Delegates should reserve their roundtrip flights as soon as possible directly with the airlines or their travel agencies.

5.  Requirements for entering and leaving the country

Participants who need a visa should request one, depending on each case, from the Mexican embassies or consulates in their country or place of residence. Attached is information regarding visas needed to enter Mexico (Appendix I)..

The uniform international airport tax is US$18.00.

6. Transportation from the Airport to the Hotel

The Government of Mexico will provide transportation and security (through the Secretariat of Public Security) between the airport and the hotel where the meeting will be held, and vice-versa, for Ministers of Security or the Heads of Delegation of the countries, and for the OAS Secretary General.

It is recommended that delegates use only the taxi services of Mexico City’s Benito Juárez International Airport. Their office is located at the exit from Customs inside the airport building. The distance from the International Airport to the hotel where the meeting is being held is 22km (an approximately 40-minute drive). The price of the journey to the Hotel is approximately US$30. (three hundred Mexican pesos).

7. Registration and accreditation of participants

a. The registration of participants will be conducted electronically at the following address: https://www.turycon.com.mx/congresos/MISPA_2008/ . Late registration and delivery of I.D.s will take place in the Foyer of Hotel Presidente Intercontinental from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Monday, October 6 and from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 7. For security reasons, participants will be required to wear their I.D. during all sessions of the Meeting.

b. Delegations, observers, and special guests are requested to send their credentials and any other correspondence relating to the meeting to the OAS Secretary General at the following address and by no later than September 25:

Secretariat of the Permanent Council

Att.: Carolina Santamaría

17th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20006

Telephone: (202) 458-6437

Fax: (202) 458-458-3929

E-mail:

cc:

Gabriela Ruiz Diéguez and

Laura Cano

8.  Working languages and documents

The working sessions at the meeting will be held in the official languages of the Organization: Spanish, French, English, and Portuguese. There will be simultaneous translation into these languages.

9. Communications

Participants will be responsible for paying their national and international telephone and fax bills.

10. Currency

The currency in Mexico is the Mexican peso for which the exchange rate is approximately US$1 = $10.50 (Mexican pesos). International credit cards are accepted in most commercial establishments.

11. Weather

Mexico City is located in the Central High Plateau region of the country (at an altitude of 2,240 meters – 7,340 ft – above sea level). The annual average temperature is 22°C/70°F. The minimum mean temperature in October is de 14°C/58°F and the maximum 26°C/80°F.

12. Local time

Local time will be one hour less than in Washington, D.C. during October.

13. Electric current

The electric current is 110/115 volts.

14. Taxis

As a basic security precaution, taxis should be taken at taxi stands or ordered by a store or tourist establishment.

Taximex / 5519 7690, 5634 9912, 91718883 to 88
Servi-Taxi / 5271 2560, 3626 9800 to 30
Radio Servicios Móviles de Transporte / 5771 4012, 5771, 0130, 5760 4696, 5551 7710, 5551 5393, 5771 0130
Taxi Radio Mex / 5584 0571, 55744597, 5574 7596
Servitaxis / 5516 6020
Radio Maxi Seguridad / 5768 8557, 5768 8553, 5552 1376
Super Sitio / 5590 3325, 5590 3381, 5590 3333

15. Security

The Government of Mexico will provide the security required for this Meeting at all the places where activities will be carried out.

16. Permits

a. Temporary permit to import and wear firearms.

Up to three armed security agents per delegation may be accredited.

It is important to stress that each Ministry of Foreign Affairs must send its request to import and wear arms on a temporary basis (Appendix II) to the Directorate General of Protocol of the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, together with the corresponding Diplomatic Note, to or to Fax (52 55) 3686-5258. The request will be authorized by the Secretariat of National Defense.

Up to three handguns – pistols up to 9mm – and three ammunition clips (of specified capacity) may be brought into the country.

A form has to be filled in for each gun and they have to go through customs. Guns that do not have prior authorization will be confiscated by customs.

b.- Permits for airplanes

Requests for permission to fly over and land airplanes in Mexican territory must be addressed to the Directorate General of Protocol of the Mexican Secretariat of Foreign Affairs for authorization (Appendix III).

Airplanes for official transportation of delegations must be duly registered in order to guarantee their landing, parking, and security at the Airport. Requests for registration should be addressed to the Directorate General of Protocol (Appendix IV).

For ground services for airplanes, the form in Appendix V needs to be filled out and sent to the Directorate General of Protocol .

16. Medical assistance

The Hotel where the Meeting will be held has on-call medical services. An ambulance for emergencies will be on duty outside the hotel.

/Appendix I

VISA REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER MEXICO

Citizenship

/ Regular passport / Diplomatic passport /

Official Passport

Antigua and Barbuda / Visa required / Visa required / Visa required
Argentina / NO visa required / NO visa required / NO visa required
Bahamas, The / NO visa required / Visa required / Visa required
Barbados / Visa required / Visa required / Visa required
Belize / Consular stamp on FMT * / NO visa required / Visa required
Bolivia / Visa required / NO visa required / NO visa required
Brazil / Visa required / NO visa required / NO visa required
Canada / NO visa required / NO visa required / NO visa required
Chile / NO visa required / NO visa required / NO visa required
Colombia / Visa required / NO visa required / NO visa required
Costa Rica / NO visa required / NO visa required / NO visa required
Dominica / Visa required / Visa required / Visa required
Dominican Republic / Visa required / NO visa required / Visa required
Ecuador / Visa required / NO visa required / Visa required
El Salvador / Consular stamp on FMT * / NO visa required / NO visa required
Grenada / Visa required / Visa required / Visa required
Guatemala / Visa required / NO visa required / NO visa required
Guyana / Visa required / NO visa required / NO visa required
Haiti / Visa required / Visa required / Visa required
Honduras / Visa required / NO visa required / Visa required
Jamaica / Consular stamp on FMT * / Visa required / Visa required
Nicaragua / Visa required / NO visa required / NO visa required
Panama / NO visa required / NO visa required / NO visa required
Paraguay / Visa required / NO visa required / NO visa required
Peru / Visa required / NO visa required / NO visa required
Saint Kitts and Nevis / Visa required / Visa required / Visa required
Saint Lucia / Visa required / NO visa required / NO visa required
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines / Visa required / NO visa required / NO visa required
Suriname / Visa required / Visa required / Visa required
Trinidad and Tobago / Visa required / NO visa required / NO visa required
United States of America / NO visa required / NO visa required / NO visa required
Uruguay / NO visa required / NO visa required / NO visa required
Venezuela / NO visa required / NO visa required / NO visa required

* No visa is needed; NEVERTHELESS, a migratory / travel form (FMT) issued and stamped by a Mexican Consulate is required.

/Appendix II

FORM FOR REQUESTING A TEMPORARY PERMIT TO IMPORT AND BEAR ARMS AND EXPLOSIVES

PERSONAL DATA:
TITLE/POSITION:
FIRST NAMES:
LAST NAMES:
No. PASSPORT / TYPE OF PASSPORT

DIPLOMATIC OFFICIAL REGULAR OTHER ______
PLACE AND DATE OF BIRTH:
TRAVEL INFORMATION
COMING FROM: / GOING TO:
INCOMING FLIGHT
MILITARY ( ) COMMERCIAL ( )
PRIVATE ( ) OFFICIAL ( ) / DEPARTURE FLIGHT Note: Attach media accreditation letter.
-
MILITARY ( ) COMMERCIAL ( ) PRIVATE ( ) OFFICIAL ( )
NO. / AIRLINE / NO. / AIRLINE
TIME: / DATE: / TIME: / DATE:
IF PRIVATE, NAME OF OWNER / IF PRIVATE, NAME OF OWNER
IF MILITARY, OFFICIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER OF THE PLANE / IF MILITARY, OFFICIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER OF THE PLANE
AGENCY, DEPARTMENT, OR MINISTRY / AGENCY, DEPARTMENT, OR MINISTRY
NATIONALITY: / NATIONALITY:
WEAPON(S)
TYPE OF FIREARM / CALIBER:
BRAND: / REGISTRATION NUMBER:
MODEL: / NO. OF MAGAZINES
ACCESSORIES
LASER DESIGNATOR YES( ) NO ( ) / TELESCOPIC SIGHT YES( ) NO ( )
SILENCER ( )
SOUND SUPPRESSOR YES ( ) NO ( ) / CORNER SHOT YES ( ) NO ( )
OTHER YES ( ) NO ( ) IF YES, PLEASE SPECIFY:
AMMUNITION
QUANTITY: / CALIBER:
NORMAL ( ) EXPANDING ( ) PERFORATING ( ) TRACER ( ) INCENDIARY ( )
OTHER ( ) IN WHICH CASE PLEASE SPECIFY:

NOTE: ATTACH PHOTOGRAPH TO OFFICIAL PAPERS AND/OR DOCUMENTS AUTHORIZING YOU TO BEAR ARMS IN YOUR COUNTRY AND SEND WITH PASSPORT PHOTOGRAPH TO THE FOLLOWING E-MAIL;ADDRESS: o al fax (52 55) 3686-5258.

/Appendix III

REQUEST FOR AIRCRAFT OVERFLIGHT AND LANDING AUTHORIZATION

COUNTRY:
AIRPLANE: MILITARY ( ) CIVILIAN ( )
AGENCY IT PERTAINS TO:
TYPE: / MODEL:
OFFICIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: / CALL SIGN:
CAPTAIN:
NUMBER OF CREW MEMBERS: / NUMBER OF PASSENGERS:
FLIGHT INFORMATION
DATE OF ENTRY INTO NATIONAL AIRSPACE / DATE OF DEPARTURE FROM NATIONAL AIRSPACE
DATE(S), PLACE(S), AND PURPOSE OF OVERFLIGHT
DATE(S), PLACE(S), AND PURPOSE OF LANDING
COMING FROM: / GOING TO:
ROUTE(S):
REMARKS:
(MENTION ANY SPECIAL CONDITION THAT MIGHT HAVE A BEARING ON THE APPLICATION: PARKING IN MILTARY PLATFORMS, CIVILIAN PLANES LEASED BY ARMED FORCES, FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION, ETC.]
OFFICIAL STAMP / ______
NAME AND SIGNATURE OF THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INFORMATION PROVIDED / ______
DATE

NOTE: PLEASE SEND TO THE FOLLOWING E-MAIL ADDRESS: or Fax to : (52 55) 3686-5258.


/Appendix IV

REQUEST FOR REGISTRATION OF AIRCRAFT

COUNTRY:
AIRPLANE DATA
TYPE: / OFFICIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER:
CALL SIGN:
FLIGHT INFORMATION
NAME OF THE CAPTAIN OF THE AIRPLANE:
NAME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PASSENGER:
NUMBER OF CREW MEMBERS: / NUMBER OF PASSENGERS:
FLIGHT PLAN INCLUDING ENTRY FIRs -
ARRIVAL IN MEXICO
TIME: ______DATE: ______
AIRPORT: ______
COMING FROM: ______/ DEPARTURE FROM MEXICO
TIME: ______DATE: ______
AIRPORT: ______
GOING TO: ______
CREW DATA
HOTEL WHERE THE CREW WILL STAY OVERNIGHT:
TELEPHONES WHERE THEY CAN BE LOCATED:
COORDINATOR’S NAME:
PLACE AND TELEPHONE NUMBER WHERE THE COORDINATOR CAN BE LOCATED:
OFFICIAL STAMP / ______
NAME AND SIGNATURE OF THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INFORMATION PROVIDED / ______
DATE

NOTE: PLEASE SEND TO THE FOLLOWING E-MAIL ADDRESS: or Fax to : (52 55) 3686-5258.