WORLD BANK GROUP AND INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND   2005 Spring Meetings  APRIL 16–17, 2005    WASHINGTON, D.C.

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Information for Journalists

All working press must obtain Meetings accreditation. To be accredited, journalists must hold valid press credentials, or provide substantive evidence of professional bona fides: Journalists in the Washington area must have press credentials issued by either the White House, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the House and Senate Press Gallery, the U.S. Department of Defense, or USIA Foreign Press Center. Journalists based outside Washington must have: 1) press credentials issued by national or local authorities; or 2) must submit an assignment letter from their Editor, along with a copy of the publication. Submissions should be sent by mail to: Press Registration Executive Board and Member Services Section (12-100) International Monetary Fund Washington, DC 20431 VISA REQUIREMENTS Journalists traveling from overseas to cover the Annual Meetings, who are not citizens or permanent residents of the U.S., are reminded that they will need to display a valid I visa to immigration officials at their port of entry into the U.S. Before departure, participants are requested to obtain entry visas for the United States from the U.S. diplomatic or consular missions in their countries. The lack of a valid visa may cause authorities to deny boarding at the port of embarkation, as well as delays in clearance with immigration authorities upon arrival at the port of entry into the United States. Participants should be aware that changes are being made to U.S. immigration procedures for certain countries, including some which are currently under the Visa Waiver Program. It is strongly recommended that all participants check with their nearest U.S. diplomatic or consular mission, or on the internet at http://travel.state.gov/visa_services.html, for the procedures which will be in effect at the time of the Annual Meetings. If visas are required, applications should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time for processing. Broadcast networks and organizations seeking accreditation for large numbers of staff are asked to submit a single request listing staff by name and job description via email to press@imf.org, or by fax to [1] 202-623-4100. Freelance journalists, including photographers, must provide clear evidence they are on assignment from a specific news organization or publication. A valid assignment letter from that news organization, or publication, is required. Photographic agencies must provide clear evidence from a client news organization, or publication. Requests for accreditation will be denied if applicants cannot establish they are professional journalists, or the applications are incomplete. Applicants can check the status of their requests on-line by utilizing the URL received when an application is submitted electronically. If you have any questions about accreditation, please send inquiries to media@imf.org. PRESS CREDENTIALS PICK-UP Representatives of Civil Society Organizations should visit "Information for CSOs" for details on CSO accreditation. Journalists who have been approved for accreditation can pick up credentials starting at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, April 11, at the Press Registration Desk, located on the ground floor of the World Bank's MC Building (1818 H Street), NW, Washington, DC. You are required to present press credentials bearing a photograph. Journalists who have not collected their Spring Meetings credentials prior to April 14 can only do so at the Meetings Satellite Registration Desk (location to be announced at a later date). The Spring Meetings credential for press grants access to the Press Room, press conferences, and briefings in IMF Headquarters. PRESS ROOM ARRANGEMENTS The  Press Room at IMF Headquarters, 700 19th St. NW, Red and Blue Levels, will open at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 13, and close on Sunday evening, April 17. Technicians for financial news wires and other accredited news organizations may arrange for advanced access to the IMF Headquarters press room starting at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 12, through special arrangements with the IMF's Media Relations Division (media@imf.org). The IMF Headquarters press room has limited space, and operates on a first come, first-served basis. Each desk will be equipped with power outlets and a telephone that enables only free local calls. Long-distance calls may be placed collect, or through telephone credit cards. Journalists will be able to purchase telephone cards on site for direct-dial long-distance calls. Press Room telephones can be used for data transmission via personal laptops. Self-service fax machines will be available in the Press Room, although use will require a major credit card. Computers are not provided to journalists. The Press Room provides wireless (Wi-Fi) access for personal laptops. Internet kiosks will be available in the Press Rooms. The Internet kiosks allow easy access to the IMF web site and World Bank Group web site. The web sites will have links to a joint Spring Meetings' site containing the schedule of press events, as well as transcripts, news releases, and other information as it becomes available. INTERVIEW REQUESTS The IMF and World Bank media relations divisions handle requests for interviews with IMF and World Bank officials during the Meetings. However, the press officers do not service interview requests for official delegations to the Meetings. Those requests must be made directly to the delegations. TV AND STILL PHOTO POOLS The photo opportunities at the start of ministerial committee meetings (Group of 24, International Monetary and Financial Committee and Development Committee) will be pooled. A selection of still photos in high resolution will be available after each event on the Spring Meetings web site. TELEVISION TRANSMISSION AND FACILITIES To inquire about the limited video and audio transmission arrangements from IMF Headquarters, please send an email to media@imf.org, or a fax to [1] 202-623-6772. Inquiries should be submitted no later than Friday, April 8. HOTELS Journalists who need accommodation during the Spring Meetings can book hotel rooms through the Hotel Accommodation Office. For reservation and booking information, please go to https://www.ambassadorstechnology.com/housing/index.cfm?shc_id=1807&pressblock=29018.The District of Columbia offers hotel booking services, and guidance on its official tourism web site: www.washington.org. OFFICIAL EVENTS Except for brief photo-opportunities at the start of the meetings, press cannot attend the meetings of The International Monetary and Financial Committee of the Board of Governors, Saturday, April 16. The Development Committee, known officially as the Joint Ministerial Committee of the Boards of Governors of the Bank and the Fund on the Transfer of Real Resources to Developing Countries, Sunday, April 17. The Group of 24 Ministers, which is known officially as the Intergovernmental Group of Twenty-Four on International Monetary Affairs and Development, Friday, April 15. The Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of the Group of Seven major industrial countries generally hold a meeting in Washington, D.C., at the time of the Spring Meetings. Arrangements for this meeting are made by the U.S. Treasury (www.treas.gov). PRESS CONFERENCES A schedule of the press conferences will be posted later. All press briefings are transcribed and posted on the external web sites of the IMF and World Bank Group as soon as possible. CONTACT INFORMATION   World Bank Press Office Telephone Fax E-mail Nazanine Atabaki (202) 458-1450 (202) 522-2616 natabaki@worldbank.org Cynthia McMahon (Photo Pools) (202) 473-2243 (202) 522-2632 ccase@worldbank.org International Monetary Fund Press Office Telephone Fax E-mail William Murray (202) 623-7064 (202) 623-6772 wmurray@imf.org Frances Hardin (Photo Pools) (202) 623-4123 (202) 623-6772 fhardin@imf.org

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