April 2, 2009
IAPA General Assembly in Buenos Aires
· November 6-10, 2009
Dear members and friends of the IAPA,
For the third time in its history and 41 years after we last held a meeting there, in 1968, IAPA's General Assembly is set for Buenos Aires from November 6-10th. At the recent Midyear Meeting in Asunción the Host Committee confirmed that Argentina and Buenos Aires will welcome the IAPA with open arms for an event that promises to be unforgettable.
A dynamic Host Committee has been at work for months planning the event in detail. The General Assembly is booked at the exclusive Hilton Buenos Aires Hotel in Puerto Madero, one of the city's prime locations, opposite the Casa Rosada, headquarters of the federal government.
Attached are registration and hotel reservation forms. Although the date may appear distant, please be reminded that rooms at the Hilton Buenos Aires will sell out rapidly so it is recommended that you make your reservation soon. No room reservation at the Hilton will be confirmed if you have not registered to participate in the General Assembly.
Greater Buenos Aires
Argentina, with its nearly 40 million inhabitants and a land area of 1,073,518 square miles is a diverse and infinitely fascinating country. The capital, Buenos Aires, is a modern city, full of life and bustling with activity. Here the spirit of the tango is found on every corner surrounded by living memories of the gauchos, yet today’s Buenos Aires is a much more cosmopolitan capital than other South American metropolis with its population of grand "aficionados" who live for o music, sports and the arts.
One neighborhood popular with local and foreign intellectuals, artists and students is Palermo Soho, a small area that recalls the charming Bohemian style of New York City’s Village. Interior designers, home decor, boutiques, designer flower shops and fashionable restaurants offering a wide variety of cuisines abound in this neighborhood that was once the domain of the tango. Julio Cortaza Square is the center of cultural and artisan activity, offering fabrics, weavings, necklaces, purses, wood objects, pottery and glasswork, lamps and hand-painted T-shirts and skirts. One of the most distinctive features of the area is its architecture -- a combination of modern superimposed on the facades of period houses.
Another popular neighborhood is La Boca, which looks like it came out of a painting or out of one of the Argentine accordions -- a “bandoneón”. It owes its name, "The Mouth" to the fact that it is located just where the Rio Riachuelo meets the Rio La Plata. It is here that one finds Caminito Street, the world famous open-air museum full of painters, musicians and dancers that inspired Juan de Dios Filiberto to write his renowned tango of the same name.
Any trip to La Boca shouldn't miss a visit to the Rivera Theatre, built in 1971, the Fine Arts Museum and a trip to the La Bombonera (the candy box) stadium, home of one of the world’s most renowned soccer teams, Boca Juniors. When the team plays at home on Sundays the whole neighborhood takes on a festive air and the passion of the fans provides an unforgettable sight.
An outstanding program
The Host Committee is working on a program that mixes top-notch academics with cultural events, sports headliners and social activities. Panel discussions will focus on topics such as Argentina’s bicentennial, north-south relations, public opinion in the 21st century, the global economic crisis and regional development, ethics and the conflict of values, among others.
To discuss those issues a number of prominent names are under consideration, among them Carlos Fuentes, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Alan García, Ricardo Lagos, Julio María Sanguinetti, Enrique Iglesias, Sergio Ramírez and several others currently under review. The hosts, along with the president of the IAPA, are moving ahead in confirming the key speakers for the event.
Special invitations have been made to Gwen Lister, inspiration behind the Declaration of Windhoek that gave rise to World Press Freedom Day, commemorated on May 3 each year, and Dr. Joaquín Navarro-Valls, spokesman for Pope Benedict XVI and for more than 20 years spokesman of the late Pope John Paul II.
The seminars for this General Assembly are being developed to address the crisis faced by the newspaper industry, especially print media, and will concentrate on technological focuses such as Internet 2, FaceBook, photologs, readership strategy in the information world, multimedia production, investigative reporting and the rise of sports publications, especially in Brazil and Argentina.
Something for everyone
Social activities are being chosen with care. On the list are highly elegant Buenos Aires salons, where local glamour and flair will charm guests with their air of sophistication and the quality of their productions.
Every day there will be a special program for spouses, including options such as a city tour on the first morning covering Puerto Madero, La Boca, San Telmo and Libertador Avenue, and continuing that afternoon with tango classes under renowned instructors. Another day will be dedicated to sports – golf, soccer and polo, and a third day will feature a morning of shopping in the exclusive stores of Alvear Avenue, Alcorta Drive and Bullrich Patio the Pacifico Malls, with afternoon tours to the Museums of Fine Arts, Hispano-American Art and Contemporary Art, all accompanied by English- and Spanish-speaking guides. Under consideration for the final day is a visit up the Tigre River and Paraná Delta, with lunch and a cruise aboard a catamaran.
Since Argentina has something for every taste and the country is a marvel of unending adventure, the Host Committee has hired a company (K&G/Expoam) to offer a variety of post-convention excursions, including Iguazú Falls, cities such as Salta, Mendoza, Bariloche, El Calafate (with a trip to the Perito Moreno glacier), Ushuaia and a stay at a ranch with outdoor activities, horse riding and gourmet dining.
Hotel, transport and climate
The Hilton Buenos Aires Hotel in Puerto Madero is of modern design and is made up of a seven-story atrium topped by a 7,535-square-foot glass ceiling; two Executive Suite floors round out the modern structure. Puerto Madero is the most modern of Buenos Aires' urban centers and the one undergoing the most growth. It has easy access to airports and tourist sites, is located next to the financial district and is surrounded by the city’s leading entertainment area.
The Host Committee has reported that it is also finalizing a deal with LAN Argentina to be the official airline of the General Assembly. Details will be provided later.
Argentina is a huge country with a wide-ranging climate. The north is sub-tropical with rain year round, while southern Tierra del Fuego has a sub-Antarctic climate. The main area is temperate, but it can get hot and humid during the summer (December to February) and cool in winter. Buenos Aires in the month of November is right in the middle of spring, with an average temperature of 64°F.
If you were in Asunción you will have heard directly from the Buenos Aires Host Committee their plans for an outstanding program.
With this General Assembly the IAPA will continue its steadfast work in defense of freedom of the press. Do come and join us – register right way.
We look forward to greeting you in Buenos Aires.
Regards,
Julio E. Muñoz, Ph.D
Executive Director
