ANNOUNCEMENT

Group of Eight Finance Ministers meeting
(Saint-Petersburg, JUNE 9-10, 2006)

The Meeting of Finance Ministers from the Group of Eight leading industrial nations (G8) will be held on June 9-10, 2006, in Saint Petersburg. G8 consists of Russia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.K., and the U.S.A. This is the second session in a series of G8 Finance Ministers Meetings to be held in 2006; it will be held under Russia’s presidency of the G8 for the first time in the history of the Group.

To obtain accreditation for G8 Finance Ministers Meeting coverage, please complete a registration form at the accreditation page: www.register.G8finance.ru.

The deadline of journalists’ accreditation is June 1, 2006.

Having obtained the accreditation, the journalists can work at the Press Center building during the period of the G8 Finance Ministers Meeting. However, at the first visit to Press Center, the journalists need to register to obtain accreditation card and information materials for the Meeting.

Press Center offices are equipped with all the necessary technical appliances for any kind of journalist’s works:

- Live broadcasting of the Meeting protocol events;
- Internet (including Wi-Fi);
- Phones;
- Faxes;
- Copiers.

On completion of the Meeting, the accredited journalists will have opportunity to take part in the final news conference and news conferences of the national delegations.

Press Center of the Meeting is located at: 5/2 Pirogovskaya nab. St Petersburg

Press Center work hours:
Jun 8, 2006. – 12.00-20.00 (registration only)
Jun 9, 2006 – 09.00-00.00
Jun 10, 2006 – 00.01-23.50

For further information please contact us on the following phones:
+ 7 (812) 335-47-30
+ 7 (812) 335-47-31
or by e-mail:

Press Service,

Finance Ministry of the Russian Federation

¹ After completion of the registration form, a letter notifying about successful registration at the site will be sent automatically to the journalist. If the journalist checks ‘needed’ in ‘Visa Support’ field, the application form for obtaining the entering visa will be sent as an attached file to be completed and sent back to the address: .

During 6-7 days, the journalist will receive a notification about the date and place of obtaining the visa. If the journalist checks ‘needed’ in ‘Hotel Reservation Service’ field, the list of hotels reserved for June, 9-10 for the media will be sent as an attached file. Rooms are paid on arrival.

If the visa form is not received within the mentioned period, whatever the reasons may be, please inform us at the address , and the form will be sent to you.