Secretary of State Colin L. Powell to Travel to Europe and Eurasia

The trip will involve several multilateral meetings, beginning in Bucharest with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). In Brussels, the Secretary will attend a series of meetings at NATO headquarters, with NATO allies, partners, Russia and Ukraine and will participate in a NATO - EU ministerial meeting.

In Turkey and Russia, the Secretary will be consulting with coalition partners about the war on terrorism. His discussions will encompass the immediate and long-term challenges of rebuilding a post-Taliban Afghanistan. The Secretary will also continue the important work of recasting U.S. relationships with key countries in the region and press forward with efforts to secure democracy and human rights, building a Europe "whole, free and at peace."

Press who wish to request a seat on Secretary Powell’s aircraft can add their name to the sign-up sheet in the Office of Press Relations, Room 2109, at the State Department, either in person or by phone (202 647-2492). The sign-up sheet will be posted until 5:00 p.m. Monday, November 26. All press who sign up are requested to complete a NATO credential application and appropriate visa application forms, available in person or by fax from the Press Relations office.

Appropriate visas are required for all travelers on the Secretary’s aircraft, and media representatives must pay related visa fees. On occasion the State Department may need to obtain visas before seats have been confirmed. Those who request to travel with the Secretary but who will not pay visa charges until a seat has been confirmed will be responsible for obtaining their required visas or other travel documentation from countries to be visited should they be offered a seat on the Secretary’s aircraft. A list of visa fees for this trip will be provided to those who request a seat at the time of sign-up, along with visa application forms.