CCP:CI 98/Inf.1 August 1998

1. LOCATION OF SESSION
By kind invitation of the Kingdom of Spain, the 12th Session of the Intergovernmental Group on Citrus Fruit will be held in Valencia, from 22 to 25 September 1998. The Session will be held at:

• Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones de Valencia
• Av. Cortes Valencianas, 60
• 46015 Valencia
• Telephone: (34-96) 3606353
• Fax: (34-96) 3179401

2. ENQUIRIES ON THE MEETING
(a) All enquiries concerning the meeting, except those regarding local arrangements or hotel accommodation, may be addressed to:

• Mr Paul P. Pilkauskas
• Secretary
• Intergovernmental Group on Citrus Fruit
• Commodities and Trade Division
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
• Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
• 00100 Rome, Italy
• Telephone: (39 6) 570-52003
• Fax: (39 6) 570-54495, 570-53152, 570-55155, 578-2610
• E-mail: [email protected]
• Telex: 610181 FAO I
• Cable: FOODAGRI ROME

(b) National and local information should be requested from the Liaison Officer for the Session:

• Sr. Sergio Aguado Giménez
• Jefe del Servicio de Acciones Institucionales
• Dirección General de Relaciones Externas
• Generalitat Valenciana
• Plaza de Manises, 1
• 46007 Valencia
• Telephone: (34-96) 3863615
• Fax: (34-96) 3863575
• E-mail: [email protected]

3. ENTRY FORMALITIES
Delegates and accompanying travellers who, because of their nationality, require visas, should apply for them at the embassies/consulates of Spain in their respective countries of residence. Should any difficulties arise, the Liaison Officer should be informed of the fact at least four weeks prior to the Session.

4. HOTEL ACCOMMODATION
Delegates should make their hotel reservation through the following travel agency:

Transvía Tours (Mª Ángeles Corella y Mª Ángeles Albarracín)
G.V. Ramón y Cajal, 17
46007 Valencia

• Telephone: (34-96) 3423888
• Fax: (34-96) 3414552

Please note that hotel prices have been specially arranged for a limited number of rooms in each hotel (see Appendix 1), and therefore delegates should confirm their bookings and inform the Liaison Officer of the duration of their stay as early as possible.

5. TRANSPORT
The Manises Airport is very near the city of Valencia and taxis are readily available at the airport. The cost of a taxi fare from the airport to the hotels is approximately 1 500 to 2 000 pesetas. Transportation will be provided for travel between the hotels and the Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones de Valencia, and for other official programme activities. There is no airport tax.

6. BANKING FACILITIES
The national currency is the Spanish peseta. The exchange rate fluctuates between 150 and 155 pesetas to one US dollar. Cash or traveller's cheques can be exchanged at the following:

• Banco Argentaria: (Monday to Friday, from 0830-1430 hours.; Saturday,
• 0830-1300 hours)
• Money Changers: (Monday to Friday, from 0700-2230 hours; only the last
• weekend of the month)

• In any bank, generally from 0830 to 1400 hours
• Hotel receptions (a commission is usually charged).

7. CLIMATE
Typically Mediterranean, humid, with temperatures in the second half of September ranging from 16º to 27º C; the normal averages for the end of summer or the beginning of October.
Even though precipitation is scarce during this period, there is some possibility of moderate or heavy rains accompanied by lightning.

8. PROVISIONAL TIMETABLE
The opening ceremony will take place at 0930 hours on Tuesday, 22 September and the report of the Session will be adopted in the afternoon of Friday, 25 September. The first working session will set its own hours of work.

9. REGISTRATION
The registration will be conducted at the Hotel Meliá Rey D. Jaime from 1700 to 1900 hours on Monday, 21 September and from 0800 to 0930 hours on Tuesday, 22 September.

NOTE: VAT included.

Monday, 21 September 1998
- 1700 - 1900 hours : Registration (Hotel Meliá Rey D. Jaime)

Tuesday, 22 September 1998
- 0800 - 0930 hours : Registration (Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones de Valencia)
- 0930 - 1230 hours : Working session
- 1230 - 1400 hours : Lunch
- 1400 - 1530 hours : Working session
- 1530 - 1545 hours : Tea Break
- 1545 - 1730 hours : Working session

Wednesday, 23 September 1998
- 0900 - 1030 hours : Working session
- 1030 - 1045 hours : Coffee break
- 1045 - 1230 hours : Working session
- 1230 - 1400 hours : Lunch
- 1400 - 1530 hours : Working session
- 1530 - 1545 hours : Tea break
- 1545 - 1730 hours : Working session

Thursday, 24 September 1998
- Study Tour

Friday, 25 September 1998
- 1500 hours : Adoption of Report