Registration and Information Desk will take place at the Hilton Convention Center. All participants will receive their name badge, conference documents and all relevant conference material upon registration.

Registration Center will be open between 08.00 and 19.00 from September 18th and 22nd.

The official language of the Conference is English.

The organizers cannot assume liability for any changes in the program due to external or unforeseen circumstances.

The Congress Secretariat will send you a letter of invitation upon request. It should be understood that this letter is only to help delegates to raise travel funds or to obtain a visa and is not a commitment on the part of the organizers to provide any financial support.

Applications for a letter of invitation should be received by the Congress Secretariat before March 31, 2004. As the Turkish embassies in foreign countries only accept original letters, the Congress Secretariat will NOT be able to send you a letter of invitation by fax or e-mail.

Please take this into consideration. Applications received after March 31, 2004 will not be dealt with. Refunds will not be made because visa applications are not granted.

The organizers cannot accept any liability for personal injures or damage to property belonging to participants, either during, or as a result of, the meeting. Please check the validity of your own personal insurance.

Turkey is two hours ahead of Greenwich and seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard mean Time.

The weather in Istanbul in late September is mild to moderate with the possibility of rain. Avarage temperatures are lowest 16°C highest 24°C. A light jacket for the evening is suggested as temperatures may decrease.

Visa requirements may differ according to the country of origin. Please contact your travel agent or the Turkish Consulate or Embassy in your country for further advice.

Istanbul's International Ataturk Airport is on the European side of the city, 20 km from the center, with separate terminal buildings for international and domestic flights. Taxis and terminal city buses (named HAVAS) are available to travel from airport to the city center. Please contact to Congress Secretariat, Intra Travel Ltd. if you require private airport transfer.

PowerPoint presentations are the preferred format. Presenters must check in their presentations at least 4 hours before their session begins. It will not be possible to check in slides in the main lecture halls. Please note that there will be no facilities for overhead projection.