THE SUMMIT Press Center at the Incheba exposition complex was officially opened on Tuesday February 22, the TASR news agency reported.
The press centre will serve up to 1,600 journalists covering the visit of George Bush and Vladimir Putin to Bratislava.
The press centre will be open until Friday February 25.
Incheba's Expo Arena has been equipped with 608 work
stations for print media, 42 for TV crews and 30 for radio journalists.
Services at Incheba include copy centres, fax machines, large-screen projections of breaking summit news, access to satellite transmissions and refreshments provided by local caterers.
Accredited media representatives will also be granted 3,500 parking spaces and the use of a special shuttle service.
There will be continuous TV transmissions from the summit's venue to the centre and two satellites will allow centre journalists to connect with their home headquarters.
Slovakia's ministries, NGOs, the Slovak Agency for Tourism and Bratislava's mayor will hold press conferences at the centre every day.
Incheba General Director Alexander Rozin considers the creation and operation of the press centre the most important commercial event in the centre's history.
American Embassy Charge d'Affairs Scott Thayer and Russian Embassy Director Yuri Chingovatov have also praised the centre.
The centre's maiden press conference suffered some minor embarrassment when some media outlets were unable to record due to insufficient hook-ups for recording equipment.
Compiled by Spectator staff from press reports23. Feb 2005 at 10:45