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General Assembly
Updated on June 25, 2019
Press Manual
Print »1. General Information
1.1. Official program
The forty‐ninth regular session of the General Assembly will be held on June 26 to 28, 2019, in Medellin, Colombia.
The Official Program of activities of the General Assembly is available on the OAS Web page: www.oas.org (click on "General Assembly") or directly at www.oas.org/en/49ga.
1.2. Languages and work documents
The official languages for the work of the General Assembly are: Spanish, French, English and Portuguese.
The work sessions of the General Assembly will offer interpreting services in these languages.
Furthermore, sound distribution of the inaugural and plenary sessions of the General Assembly will be made in the above‐mentioned languages.
Official documents in the four official languages of the General Assembly will be available on the OAS General Assembly webpage, and hardcopies will be made available in the International Media Center upon request.
Journalists are advised to bring laptops and earphones should they wish to hear audio of General Assembly meetings in one of the other official languages of the OAS by accessing the live Webcast. Handheld translation audio devices will not be made available to the media.
1.3. Headquarters of the General Assembly
The 49th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) will take place on June 26 to 28, 2019, at the Plaza Mayor, Exhibition Center in Medellin, Colombia.
1.4. OAS Member States
* On June 3, 2009, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Americas adopted resolution GA/RES. 2438 (XXXIX‐O/09), which resolves that the Resolution from 1962 through which the Government of Cuba was excluded from participating in the inter‐American system is without effect in the Organization of American States (OAS). The 2009 resolution declares that the participation of the Republic of Cuba in the OAS will be the result of a process of dialogue to begin at the request of the Government of the Republic of Cuba and in conformity with the practices, goals, and principles of the OAS.
2. Press accreditation and information prior to the event
2.1. Accreditation
Requests for accreditation will be accepted from May 15 until June 14. To receive accreditation; the applicant must fill out a form found on the webpage http://www.cvent.com/d/z6qtsv/4W?lang=en.
Once the required information is received and processed, the applicant will receive an email concerning acceptance and approval of accreditation.
2.2. Requirements
Requests for accreditation must be made individually, only online and must be made through the OAS General Secretariat. Each request must include a digitalized (PDF) note no larger than 1Mb from the director of the media company requesting accreditation that must indicate the name and function of the press official to be accredited.
Furthermore, the applicant must include a recent passport-sized color photograph in JPEG format.
All media representatives are requested to provide all the information indicated on the form in order to obtain their credentials. At the time of registration the applicant must enter a personal e-mail.
2.3. Picking up your credentials
The delivery of press credentials will take place at the Plaza Mayor, Exhibition Center at the following times:
- Sunday, June 23 to Tuesday, June 25 from 9:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:00 (local time)
- From Wednesday, June 26 to Thursday, June 27 from from 08:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:00 (local time)
- Friday, June 28 from 8:00 to 12:00 (local time)
For reasons of security and access, members of the press MUST present this letter to enter the Accreditation Center.
During the General Assembly, in addition to the OAS‐issued press credentials, members of the press must present their own identification card issued by the media organization they represent. They must visibly display these two documents (OAS credential and media identification) on their persons in order to obtain access to the meetings and events to which they have been invited.
2.4. Requirements for entering and leaving the country
Citizens of some countries require visas to enter Colombia. Click the following link to see specifics and requirements: https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/tramites_servicios/visa/requisitos
For more information, contact the Colombian Consulate closest to your place of residence. Link https://tramites.cancilleria.gov.co/ApostillaLegalizacion/directorio/misionesExterior.aspx
2.5. Security and technical inspection
For security reasons, press equipment will be inspected before coverage of the various meetings, which is why we request that you arrive at least one hour in advance.
Journalists must restrict their movement to press‐authorized areas, except when appropriate times are set up for photographs and video with the assistance of personnel from the OAS Press Department.
2.6. Press conferences
- All press conferences held during the General Assembly will take place in a room designated for the purpose.
- Press conferences will have interpretation in Spanish and English.
- At the end of the press conference, video, audio, photographs and press releases will be made available.
2.7. Advisories and Press Communications
All official documents, advisories, press releases, photo galleries and announcements will be published on the official website of the General Assembly www.oas.org/en/49ga) and sent to the media representatives to the email address given on the press credential application. If you would like to receive the communications at some other email address, please write to [email protected].
To receive updates on events, announcements, photographs and press releases from the General Assembly, follow @OASofficial on Twitter and/or #OEA_49AG and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/OASofficial.
3. Areas and services for the media
3.1. International Media Center
Media representatives with General Assembly credentials will have access to the International Media Center. It will be located on the ground floor of the headquarters of the OAS; will be open on:
- Monday, June 24 and Tuesday, June 25 from 09:00 (Local time) until 17:00.
- Wednesday, June 26 to Friday, June 28 from 07:00 (Local time) until the end of the day.
This center will offer the following services:
- Wireless Internet (Wi-Fi). Connectivity in the OAS historic building can be limited at times. If you need a special bandwidth (for the transmission of high-resolution pictures or videos), you should use your own equipment for Internet access (hotspot).
- Closed circuit television to monitor the transmission. The inaugural meeting and the plenaries will be broadcast live in the International Media Center. Sound will be original language from the plenary hall. To hear interpretation you will need to connect via webcast http://www.oas.org/en/media_center/webcast_schedule.asp
- Electricity voltage in Colombia is: 110 volts AC, 60 Hz.
- The radio and television transimission center will have a video signal on the screen and original audio. There will be an audio box with 20 outputs in the original language.
- To request high-definition video, contact Mr. Ernesto Cossich at [email protected]
3.2. Internet
The OAS, through its webpage (www.oas.org) and the official webpage of the General Assembly www.oas.org/en/49ga, will provide live webcast services of the meetings of the Foreign Ministers, the Opening Ceremony, the Plenary Sessions and the Press Conferences in the four official languages of the OAS. The videos will be available on the webpage http://www.oas.org/en/media_center/videos.asp.
3.3. Plenary Sessions and Press Conferences
If you wish to link the webcast to your website, please send an email to: [email protected] and/or contact Ernesto Cossich ([email protected]). Radio and television stations that wish to air the webcast signal are authorized to do so.
The OAS, at http://www.flickr.com/photos/oasoea/, will have galleries of high resolution photographs from the General Assembly that you may publish with due credit. Similarly, official documents, draft resolutions, reports, speeches, press releases and other documents will become immediately available on the Assembly’s Web page.
3.4. Photographers and cameramen/women
Photographers and cameramen/women will be allowed to take images of particular events to be announced in due time. Among them are the following:
- Inaugural ceremony
- First plenary session on each of the two days of the General Assembly
- Closing ceremony
- Closing ceremony press conference
3.5. Press “pools”
If necessary, press "pools" are groups of limited size of media representatives (photographers and camera operators) who will be granted access to those events in which space is limited in order to capture images. The makeup of these “pools” will be announced in due time.
3.6. Official photograph
...
3.7 Official radio and TV signal
TBA will operate as the host channel for the Assembly, distributing the signal to all other channels.
CONTACTS for the official signal: Ernesto Cossich [email protected]
In the Press Room service is available for audio and video signal plenary sessions. Journalists are responsible for any needed cables and/or adapters.
4. Hotels and Interesting Tips
4.1. Recommended Hotels for the press
| Hotels for the Press | Single/double US$ | Junior suites | Breakfast included | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel Mi Sandiego | $49 / $65 |
N/A |
SI |
https://www.mihotel.com.co/ |
| El Portón de San Joaquín | $55 / $74 |
N/A |
SI |
https://porton-de-san-joaquin.hotels-medellin.com/es/ |
| Additional Hotels | Single/double US$ | Junior suites | Breakfast included | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Binn Hotel | $74 / $84 |
N/A |
SI |
https://binnhotel.com/ |
| Hotel Poblado Alejandría | $123 / $149 |
N/A |
SI |
https://www.pobladohoteles.com/ hotel-poblado-alejandria-en-medellin/ |
| LQ Hotel La Quinta | $130 / $143 |
N/A |
SI |
https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/es-xl/laquinta/ medellincolombia/lq-hotelmedellin/overview |
| Hotel Poblado Plaza | $140 / $160 |
$193 |
SI |
https://www.pobladohoteles.com/ hotel-poblado-plaza-en-medellin/ |
| Four Points by Sheraton | $140 |
$280 |
SI |
https://www.ghlhoteles.com/hoteles/colombia/ medellin/four-points-sheraton-medellin/ |
| Hotel San Fernando Plaza | $179 |
$279 |
SI |
http://www.hotelsanfernandoplaza.com/ |
5. Useful information
5.1 Vaccination
Although there are no obligatory vaccinations to enter Colombia, it is recommended to have your vaccines up to date including those of measles, rubella and yellow fever.
6. Agenda (AG/doc.5647 corr. 1)
6.1 Activities prior to the start of the General Assembly
| Wednesday, June 26 | |
|---|---|
| 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Dialogue between the heads of delegation and representatives of civil society organizations and other social actors |
| 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | PRESS CONFERENCE |
6.2 Agenda: Start of the General Assembly
| Wednesday, June 26 | |
|---|---|
| 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Participant registration |
| 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. | INAUGURAL SESSION |
| Thursday, June 27 | |
|---|---|
| 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Participant registration |
| 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. | Meeting of the Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG) |
| 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | First PLENARY SESSION
|
| 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | First plenary session (continued): Dialogue of the heads of delegation |
| 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. | First meeting of the GENERAL COMMITTEE |
| 1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. | Official photograph of the heads of delegation |
| 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Private dialogue of the heads of delegation |
| 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Second meeting of the GENERAL COMMITTEE |
| 3:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | Second PLENARY SESSION |
| Friday, June 28 | |
|---|---|
| 8:30 a.m-1:00 p.m. | Registration of participants |
| 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Third meeting of the GENERAL COMMITTEE |
| 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Third PLENARY SESSION |
| 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Fourth PLENARY SESSION*
*. OAS Charter – Article 91.f: “The Permanent Council shall … [c]onsider the reports of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development, of the Inter-American Juridical Committee, of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, of the General Secretariat, of specialized agencies and conferences, and of other bodies and agencies, and present to the General Assembly any observations and recommendations it deems necessary; …” |
| 7:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | CLOSING SESSION |
| 7:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. | PRESS CONFERENCE |
6.2 Parallel Activities
| Tuesday, June 25 | |
|---|---|
| 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Young Americas Business Trust (YABT) event – TIC Americas 2019 and Eco-Challenge 10 (cont.) |
| 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Event commemorating the 15 years of the OAS Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia (MAPP/OAS) |
| 2:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. | “Innovating with Open Data in the Fight against Corruption in the Americas” |
| 3:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. | Event to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the creation of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) |
| Wednesday, June 26 | |
|---|---|
| 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Young Americas Business Trust (YABT) event – TIC Americas 2019 and Eco-Challenge 10 (cont.) |
| 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Discussion on “Comprehensive Action against Antipersonnel Landmines in Colombia: A Success Experience in Multilateral Cooperation in the Hemisphere |
| 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Private Sector Forum (Business Forum) and working lunch |
| Friday, June 28 | |
|---|---|
| 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Release of the Report on the Venezuelan Migrant and Refugee Crisis in Region by the OAS Working Group |
| 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Dialogue with the Heads of Delegation of Permanent Observers |