World Climate Services Programme Climate Applications and Services

WMO/WCRP/IPY Workshop on CLIPS in Polar Regions:

Climate product generation, user liaison and training

8-11 September 2008, St Petersburg, Russian Federation

LOGISTICAL INFORMATION

Date and Place:

The meeting will take place in St Petersburg, Russian Federation, from 8-11 September 2008. The venue of the Workshop will be at the Meeting Hall in the hotel “St Petersburg”. The hotel is situated in the center of the city, on the Neva river embankment. The historical downtown is on the opposite bank and you will need to cross a bridge to get there. You can find details and the map at www.hotel-spb.ru

Language:

The workshop will be conducted in English only - no translation will be provided.

Participants:

In addition to invited speakers, a number of participants will be selected from candidates proposed by the Permanent Representatives with WMO of WMO Member countries. Candidates may be from National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, or relevant agencies in member countries. (See the announcement for the workshop).

Visa/Entry Requirement:

Participants for whom visas for the Russian Federation are required should obtain visas, before their departure, from the diplomatic or consular missions of the Russian Federation in their respective countries. The procedure of getting a Russian visa for this workshop is as follows:

1. Please fill in the attached form (electronically), and e-mail it to Dr.Tatyana Pavlova together with an electronic copy (scan) of the page from your passport containing your name, photo and the expiration date of the passport (NB: by no later than 10 August).
2. Dr Pavlova will forward this information to the headquarters of the Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology (Roshydromet) in Moscow.
3. Roshydromet will then send a request to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who will approve the visa and provide ID numbers to Dr Pavlova and instructions to the corresponding Russian Embassies or Consulates in your respective country (it is crucial to inform Dr Pavlova in which specific Embassy/Consulate you will be getting the visa).
4. After the instructions are sent to the Consulates, Dr Pavlova will send you the “ID number”.This reference number in effect, replaces the need for a letter of invitation from the host, and is, in all cases, an essential requirement for visa application.
5. Please contact the appropriate Embassy or Consulate for your country and locale, and request identification of all other forms, documents, photos, passports , etc, that may also be required, and any fees for processing the application. You should provide all such information, including the ID number, to an official in the Embassy or Consulate, and pick up your visa. Please note that fees for acquisition of visas can be reimbursed by WMO, so please retain original receipts for submission to the Secretariat.

Opening/Closure:

The meeting will open on Monday, 8 September 2009 at 09h00, and will end on Thursday, 11 September 2008 at 16h00.

Meeting website and documentation:

Latest information on the meeting will be posted on the following website:
http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/wcp/wcasp/polarclips.html

All participants giving a presentation are requested to provide, in advance of the session, an extended abstract (one to two pages).

Participants are requested to bring hard copies of those documents that will be required at the meeting, as well as any enclosed in the formal invitation letter.

Accommodation:

A block booking has been made at the Hotel “St Petersburg” for September 7 (check-in) to September 12 (check out). The daily rate is 2380 RUB (single rate) and includes a breakfast.

The hotel has been provided with a list of meeting participants based on the official programme. On arrival at the hotel please provide reception with your name and a room will be allocated to you.

The Hotel web site: http://www.saint-petersburg.com/hotels/st-petersburg-hotel/
Hotel address: St Petersburg, 194044, Pirogovskaia naberejnaia, 5/2

Closest underground station: Finland railway station

Participants planning an extended stay are responsible for their own accommodation arrangements for the extended periods.

Travel Arrangements:

Information on travel arrangements will be provided by WMO to participants supported by WMO, once their participation is approved by their Permanent Representative.

It is expected that all participants whose travel is paid for by their home organization will make their own travel arrangements. However, for purposes of arrangements for local transportation on arrival and departure, it is advised to provide WMO (Ms Olamit) with itineraries.

Local transportation:

A free shuttle service will be set up by the local host, for pick up and return trips to/from the airport on the Sunday and Friday, 7 and 12 September, respectively. For those travelling on other days, there are a variety of ways to reach central St Petersburg from the airport, including bus and metro, and taxi. Taxi service to (or from) the airport costs in the order of 2000 RUB.

WMO will coordinate information related to itineraries with the local hosts, to support local transportation arrangements.

Insurance:

WMO does not provide insurance cover for participants or their belongings. Participants are expected to make their own arrangements for accident, illness and luggage insurance (etc.), if so desired.

Currency:

The currency of the Russian Federation is the Ruble (RUB).

For the exchange rate, please get the latest information from your own country/bank, but for a quick estimate, information is available at http://www.xe.com/

All major credit cards are accepted in the hotel and nearby restaurants. The hotel does have a bank office where travellers cheques could be cashed. Debit cards can be used at bank machines in St Petersburg. Banking facilities for exchange of currency are available at the airport.

Lunch or dinner in the hotel restaurant will cost approximately 400 RUB without drinks.

Customs regulations:

There are no additional specific restrictions on what can be taken into and out of the country, including currency; except ones used in Europe and the process for going through customs at the airport is the same as in international airports.

Local Weather:

Information on the mean climate of St Petersburg for the month of September is given below:

For current weather information: http://worldweather.wmo.int/107/c00203.htm

Tourism:

Tourist information for St Petersburg can be found at: http://www.russiatourism.ru/

Local Contacts:

Meeting venue, accommodation and other local arrangements:

Dr Alexandr Zaitsev
Roshydromet Main Geophysical Observatory
7 Karbysheva Street
St Petersburg 194021
Russian Federation
Tel: +7 812 297 43 90
e-mail: a.zaitsev@main.mgo.rssi.ru

Visas:

Dr Tatyana Pavlova
Roshydromet Main Geophysical Observatory
7 Karbysheva Street
St Petersburg 194021
Russian Federation
Tel: +7 812 297 43 90
e-mail: pavlova@main.mgo.rssi.ru; t-v-pavlova@mail.ru

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