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U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesman Press Statement

Notice to the Press
March 3, 1999

NATO Accession Ceremony - Advisory #1

On March 12 Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright will host the Foreign Ministers of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland in a ceremony at the Truman Presidential Library in Independence, Missouri for the official accession of these nations into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Each Foreign Minister will make brief remarks, which Secretary Albright will follow with a foreign policy address. The ceremony will be OPEN PRESS coverage. After the ceremony Secretary Albright, the Foreign Ministers and other guests will attend a luncheon at the Library. It is anticipated that the ceremony will begin around 11 a.m. The ensuing luncheon, which is CLOSED PRESS, will end at approximately 2:30 p.m.

A press filing center will be established on the University of Missouri at Kansas City (UMKC) Truman campus in the gymnasium. Press will have access to that space beginning at 10:00 am Thursday, March 11. Press credentials can be picked up between 10:00 am and 8:00 pm on Thursday, March 11, and from 8:00 am on Friday, March 12, from the press filing center upon presentation of either (a) a photo media identification card or (b) both a letter on media organization letterhead stating that the individual, by name, is employed by that organization and a photo i.d., such as a driver’s license or passport.

Telephone lines and instruments must be ordered directly by the user in advance through Southwest Bell at 1-800-303-7477, Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm Central Standard Time. Orders must be received not later than 5 pm Monday, March 8.

TV and Radio broadcasters that are affiliated with EBU, Reuters TV, APTN or that receive contract production services from a U.S. network or production services company, should consult with their service provider. In most cases your service provider will place one blanket order that will include all client needs. Contact Cynthia Thompson at (202) 661-8964, fax number (202) 724-2679 not later than Friday, March 5, 1999.

We want this event to be as accessible as possible for the press, but auditorium space is limited. If your organization is considering sending writers or camera crews, please let us know as soon as possible, but before 10 am Monday morning, March 8, so we can make appropriate preparations. U.S. media organizations should notify the State Department Press Office at (202) 647-2492. Non-U.S. media should notify the Foreign Press Center, Demitra Pappas, at (202) 661-8941.

Further media advisories about coverage of this event will be issued as necessary.

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