For information only - not an official document

UNIS/MA/004
21 February 2013

Media Advisory

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Austria for Alliance of Civilizations 5 th Global Forum

Media invited to Alliance of Civilization youth events, opening and press conference

VIENNA, 21 February (UN Information Service) - The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will visit Austria from 26-28 February 2013 to attend the 5th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations in Vienna and for a bilateral visit to Austria.

The Secretary-General will meet the Federal President Heinz Fischer and the Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister for European and International Affairs Michael Spindelegger. The Secretary-General will give an address at the official opening of the 5th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations at the Hofburg and will attend a Gala Dinner hosted by the Mayor of Vienna, Michael Häupl at the Rathaus. He will attend the Alliance of Civilizations Youth event and the Intercultural Innovation Award Ceremony. While in Vienna Mr. Ban will also meet the Heads of the Vienna-based UN organizations including the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV) and Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Yury Fedotov and address UN staff.

Among those speaking at the Global Forum are the High Representative of the UN Alliance of Civilizations Jorge Sampaio, the incoming High Representative Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser and the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova.

Media representatives are invited to attend the following events:

1. Address by the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the Youth Event of the 5th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations
Date: Tuesday 26 February 2013
Time: 11:40
Venue: Museumsquartier, Vienna

Accreditation: pre-registration is required - for details see below.
Please register by 17:00 on Friday 22 February 2013.

2. Photo opportunity with the Secretary-General and the President of Austria,  Heinz Fischer
Date: Tuesday 26 February 2013
Photo opportunity: 17:00
Venue: Maria-Theresia Room, Hofburg Palace, Ballhausplatz
Please arrive by 16:40

Accreditation: pre-registration is required - for details see below. Media representatives who wish to attend should register with the President's Office Press Department (Telephone: (+43-1) 53422 230; Email: pressebuero@hofburg.at) . Please register by 5 p.m. on Monday 25 February 2013 .

3. Address by the Secretary-General at the Intercultural Innovation Award Ceremony
Date: Tuesday 26 February 2013
Time: 19:30
Venue: Volkstheater, Neustiftgasse 1, Vienna

Accreditation: pre-registration is required - for details see below.
Please register by 17:00 on Friday 22 February 2013.

4. Address by the Secretary-General at the Official  Opening of the 5th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations
Date: Wednesday 27 February 2013
Time: 10:00
Venue: Hofburg Palace, Festsaal

Accreditation: pre-registration is required - for details see below.
Please register by 17:00 on Friday 22 February 2013.

5. Press conference at the 5th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations with the Secretary-General and the Austrian Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger
Date: Wednesday 27 February 2013
Time: 11:00 - 11:30
Venue: Hofburg Palace, Forum Hall

Accreditation: pre-registration is required - for details see below.
Please register by 17:00 on Friday 22 February 2013.

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Media accreditation for the 5th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations in Vienna

Media representatives who wish to attend should register at http://www.vienna5unaoc.org/registration/media/ or with the Austrian Federal Press Service at: www.bundeskanzleramt.at/site/3569/default.aspx

Please register by 5 p.m. on Friday 22 February 2013. Media accreditation badges can be collected from the office of the Federal Press Service at Innerer Burghof, 1010 Vienna at the following times:

Friday, 22 February: 9:00 - 17:00
Monday, 25 February: 9:00 - 17:00
Tuesday, 26 February: 8:00 - 17:00
Wednesday, 27 February: 8:00 - 17:00

For further information about media accreditation and arrangements for the media for the 5 th Global Forum go to: http://www.vienna5unaoc.org/media-centre/media-kit/

For more information about the 5th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations in Vienna go to: http://www.vienna5unaoc.org/

For further information about the visit of the Secretary-General to Austria please contact:

Anne Thomas
Information Officer, UNIS Vienna
Telephone: (+43-1) 26060-5588
Mobile: (+43) 699-1459-5588
Email: anne.thomas[at]unvienna.org

For interview requests for the incoming High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser contact:

Nihal Saad
Spokesperson for the UN High Representative
for the Alliance of Civilizations
Mobile: (+1) 646-255-4664
Email : nsaad777@yahoo.com