Information for participants

1. DATE AND PLACE OF THE MEETING

The Sixtieth Session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean is scheduled to take place in Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa, Muscat, from Sunday 27 to Wednesday 30 October 2013 inclusive. On 27 October 2013, the pre-RC Technical Meetings will take place in the Ballroom of Al Bandar Hotel. The inaugural session of the Regional Committee will take place on Monday, 28 October 2013 at 09.00 in the same conference hall. It is expected that the provisional programme of the session will follow shortly.

2. 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.

3.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.

4.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/RC60/1-Rev.3) is now being sent to Members of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean. The main subjects for discussion will be:

4.1 Technical Discussion

A Chairman will be elected to preside over the Technical Discussion which this year will be on:

1. Regional strategy on environmental health
2. Towards universal health coverage: Challenges, Opportunities and Roadmap

The background documents on these subjects are being prepared (EM/RC60/Tech.Disc.1 and EM/RC60/Tech.Disc.2) and will be despatched with the documents for the Session.

5. 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.

6. ARRANGEMENTS AND FACILITIES

6.1 Reception on Arrival

Provided that sufficient notice is given, delegations will be met on arrival at Muscat 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 communicate their flight details, date and exact time of arrival by 20 September 2013, 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 Street,

Extension of Abdel Razak El Sanhouri Street

P.O. Box 7608, Nasr City

Cairo 11371, EGYPT

Telephone: (+202) 26702535/22765000

Fax: (+202) 26702492/94

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6.2  Entry Visa to Oman

Representatives and other participants should obtain visa for Oman 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 Oman are not available, in obtaining their visa on arrival at the airport provided full details are faxed at least 5 weeks in advance (maximum by 20 September 2013) to obtain necessary visa (Annex C).

6.3 Privileges and Immunities

All Members officially attending the Regional Committee in Muscat, 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.

6.4 Health Requirements on Arrival/Departure

According to the WHO International Travel and Health Requirements, the Government of Oman 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.

6.5 Hotel Accommodation 

Block hotel reservations have been made at Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa. The cost of superior rooms has been subsidized by generous support of the Government of Oman. The preferential rates agreed upon are listed hereunder:

Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa

P.O. Box 644, Muscat, Post Code 100

Sultanate of Oman

Tel: +968 2477 6666

Fax:  +968 2477 6777

RO – Rial Omani

– The above room rates are on bed and breakfast basis, and subject to 17% service charge and taxes.

– Check in time 14.00 hours on the day of arrival. Check out time is 12.00 noon. Daily rate will be chargeable for late check-out beyond 12.00.

– For early flight arrivals (scheduled flight before 8.00 am) reservations will automatically be made from the night before to ensure immediate access to the resort and its facilities.

The current exchange rate is RO 0.385 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 20 September 2013.

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.

Meals:

Lunch will be provided by the organizer throughout the official days of the meeting.

6.6 Transportation

In addition to transport on arrival and departure, transport will be provided for any official functions which are held away from the hotel. 

6.7 Currency and Banking facilities

Foreign currency can be exchanged at the hotel or at any bank in Muscat.  The hotel bank is open 24 hours. Foreign currency brought in Oman may be exchanged for local currency through banks and authorized dealers in foreign currency.  Major credit cards are accepted in most establishments.

6.8 Travel Services

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

6.9 Communication Services

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

Office of the World Health Organization Representative

Al Wezarat Street, Ministry of Health Building

Al Khuwair, Muscat, Oman

Telephone: +968 24600989/24605860

Fax: +968 24602637

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or else please send directly to the hotel as follows:

Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa

P.O. Box 644, Muscat, Post Code 100

Sultanate of Oman

Tel: +968 2477 6666

Fax:  +968 2477 6777 

6.10 Departure tax

No Departure tax is applicable.

6.11 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.

7. Climate

In October the weather in Muscat is expected to be hot during the day and warm at night. Tempratures during this time of the year range between a maximum of 34ºC and a minimum of 27ºC.

ANNEX “A”

REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR

THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN

Sixtieth Session

Muscat, Oman, 27-30 October 2013 

PLEASE RETURN AS SOON AS FLIGHT RESERVATION

IS CONFIRMED, BY 20 September 2013 AT THE LATEST  

NOTICE OF ARRIVAL

To: WHO Regional Office, Fax: (202) 26702492 - 26702494

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NAME:.................................................................Nationality......................................

Representing (Country/Organization) ………………………………………………..

1.  Coming from.............................................. I am due to arrive on.........................   

by flight …………………….........................via ...................................................

My exact time of arrival at Airport:......................................................... hours.

2.  My return reservation is now confirmed.   

I will depart on....................................................................................................

by flight ...........................at ........................hours.

Date: .................................................... Signature: ................................................

ANNEX “B”

REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR

THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN

Sixtieth Session

Muscat, Oman, 27-30 October 2013

ACCOMMODATION REQUEST

To: WHO Regional Office, Fax: (202) 26702492 – 26702494

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Name: …………………………………………………………………..

Representing Country/Organization: …………………………………

Shanri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Report and Spa

The above room rates are in Omani Rials, on bed and breakfast basis, subject to 17% service charge and taxes.

Date: .................................................... Signature: ................................................

ANNEX “C”

REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR

THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN

Sixtieth Session

Muscat, Oman, 27-30 October 2013 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN ORDER TO OBTAIN

VISA FOR SULTANATE OF OMAN

This form should be used by participants where no Consular Representative exists in their country. Visa process takes about 5 weeks from the date of submission to the cognizant authorities in Oman

Name (in triplicate): ........................................................................................................

Nationality: ......................................................................................................................

Date of Birth: .............................................. Place of Birth: ........................................

Passport No. : ............................................... Place of Issue: ........................................

Date of Issue: ............................................... Expiry Date: ...........................................

Please send us the above information as soon as possible and maximum by

20 September 2013. Copies of the following documents will be needed:

1-  Clear scanned copies of passport including passport page showing the signature of the passport holder if available (passport validity should be minimum six months before the travel date);

2-  Completed visa application form (format attached).  Filling up of all personal details is mandatory including mother’s name;

3-  Scanned photograph.

Your exact time of arrival in Oman and full flight details should also be sent to the Regional Office (fax. no.: (202) 26702492 – 26702494) or E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as soon as confirmed.

Thank you. 

Date: .................................................... Signature: .....................................................