Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest • Volume 7 • Number 10 • 20th March 2003
Cancun Bulletin
ICTSD Cancún Ministerial Info Page
ICTSD has posted an information section on the forthcoming WTO Fifth Ministerial Conference (10-14 September 2002) on its website. Available at http://www.ictsd.org/ministerial, the section contains relevant news, documents, NGO activities, links, and a map of the Cancún hotel district, including the location of the Ministerial Conference Centre.
Ministerial Venue
As previously reported, the Fifth Ministerial Conference will take place in the Cancún Centro de Convenciones, located at the very tip of Punta Cancún. The ground floor of the Conference Centre will house the Press Centre and public spaces, and will be accessible to all accredited personnel, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Plenary sessions will also be open to all accredited personnel. Floors 1 and 2 will house the negotiation venues, and will be available only to authorised participants (i.e. members of government delegations, WTO Secretariat).
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT WHILE THE WTO MINISTERIAL IS SCHEDULED TO RUN FROM 10-14 SEPTEMBER, IN THE PAST IT HAS SOMETIMES GONE BEYOND ITS CLOSING DEADLINE. THIS MIGHT AFFECT BOTH HOTEL AND AIR TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS.
NGO Centre
Efforts by the Organising Committee and the WTO Secretariat at securing a venue for the NGO Centre close to the Ministerial — specifically in the Hotel Fiesta Americana next door to the Convention Centre — were ultimately unsuccessful. Instead, the NGO Centre will be located a 15- 20 minute walk away from the Ministerial venue, in the Hotel Sierra. A continuous shuttle bus service will be available between the NGO Centre and the Convention Centre. Meeting and conference rooms, photocopy, telephone, fax and computer facilities will be available. A large meeting room of 400-500 person capacity will be made available for NGO briefings in the Hotel Fiesta Americana.
Conference organisers and the WTO Secretariat are expecting 1500 - 2000 accredited NGO participants to attend, out of an expected 7000 - 10 000 participants overall.
Organising Committee
The Conference Organising Committee has posted a website, http://www.omcmexico.org.mx/. For the time being it is only in Spanish, but other language versions will be available shortly. The Organising Committee is also in the process of appointing an NGO contact person who will facilitate NGO activities and enquiries.
Hotels
Conference organisers have identified 33 ‘official’ hotels with preferred rates and facilities that are close to the Conference Centre. They will publish this list shortly and make it available via the WTO Secretariat. ICTSD will also post the list on its Ministerial section when it becomes available. Groups and individuals attending the Ministerial are urged to make their own hotel bookings.
Transport
Free shuttles between the Cancún airport and the ‘official’ hotels will be provided. A 24-hr. shuttle service will also be available between the hotels and the Convention Centre.
Security
There will not be a security perimeter that will shut down large areas around the Conference Centre. However, security checkpoints will be set up, and only those with official accreditation badges will be allowed in certain areas. Designated hotels will also have security checkpoints, including metal detectors.
Regarding demonstrations, the Mexican government has indicated that it will allow peaceful protests. It said it would adhere to its law on public demonstrations, available online on the government’s website.
Visas
Special visa arrangements will be made for those accredited to the Ministerial Conference. Further information is available on Organising Committee’s website at http://www.omcmexico.org.mx/. Those who will not be accredited are urged to make appropriate visa enquiries in advance.
Weather
Expected meteorological conditions during the Ministerial in Cancún are 27-30 degrees Celsius and humid. Conference organisers recommend wearing light clothes if moving around outdoors.