COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR USDOC/OEERIS GOOD GOVERNANCE

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000137 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: BEXP ETRD AM LO SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR USDOC/OEERIS GOOD GOVERNANCE PROGRAM DIRECTOR IGOR ABRAMOV AND PROGRAM MANAGER ELIZABETH RAMBORGER REF: USDOC 00464 ¶1. EMBASSY BRATISLAVA WELCOMES MR. IGOR ABRAMOV AND MS. ELIZABETH RAMBORGER AND GRANTS COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR THE PERIOD OF FEBRUARY 17 TO FEBRUARY 20, 2004. THE EMBASSY POINT OF CONTACT FOR YOUR VISIT IS SANFORD OWENS, SENIOR COMMERCIAL OFFICER. PHONE NUMBER IS +420-2-5920- 5320(OFFICE). THE FAX LINE IS +420-2-5920-5333. CELLPHONE NUMBER OF DUTY OFFICER IS +420-903-703-666. RESERVATION HAS BEEN MADE AT THE HOTEL DANUBE FOR 2 NIGHTS OF FEBRUARY 18 TO 19, 2004. (ADDRESS: RYBNE SQ. 1, BRATISLAVA, TEL.+420-2-5934- 0833, RES.NO 47592, HOTEL RATE IS 110,00 USD). POST HAS ARRANGED A CONTRACTED DRIVER FOR GROUND TRANSPORTATION ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN REFTEL. ¶2. SECURITY CLEARANCES AND BUILDING ACCESS: IF NECESSARY, THE REGIONAL SECURITY OFFICER WILL PROVIDE A TEMPORARY EMBASSY BADGE FOR YOU. THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING YOUR CLEARANCE LEVEL IN REFTEL. ¶3. COMPUTER ACCESS TO MISSION FACILITIES: PRIVATELY OWNED LAPTOPS AND PERSONAL COMPUTERS (INCLUDING PALM PILOTS), PERIPHERALS, DISKETTES AND TAPES ARE PROHIBITED IN ALL MISSION FACILITIES. TRAVELERS WITH UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT (USG) OWNED UNCLASSIFIED LAPTOP OR NOTEBOOK COMPUTERS, PERIPHERALS, DISKETTES AND TAPES MUST RECEIVE RSO/IPO AUTHORIZATION PRIOR TO BEING GRANTED ACCESS TO U.S. MISSION BUILDINGS. USG-OWNED CLASSIFIED COMPUTERS MUST BE SENT TO POST VIA CLASSIFIED DIPLOMATIC POUCHES. CLASSIFIED EQUIPMENT MUST BEAR EXTERNAL USG BAR CODES, INVENTORY NUMBERS, AND CLASSIFICATION MARKING COMMENSURATE WITH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF INFORMATION PROCESSED ON THE SYSTEM. ¶4. SECURITY: THE U.S. GOVERNMENT REMAINS DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SECURITY OF U.S. CITIZENS OVERSEAS. U.S. CITIZENS ARE CAUTIONED TO MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF VIGILANCE, TO REMAIN ALERT AND TO TAKE APPROPRIATE STEPS TO INCREASE THEIR SECURITY AWARENESS. THERE ARE INCREASING INDICATIONS THAT AL-QAIDA IS PREPARING TO STRIKE U.S. INTERESTS ABROAD. IT IS EXPECTED THAT AL-QAIDA WILL STRIVE FOR NEW ATTACKS DESIGNED TO BE MORE DEVASTATING THAN THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACK, POSSIBLY INVOLVING NON-CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS SUCH AS CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL AGENTS. TERRORIST ACTIONS MAY INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, SUICIDE OPERATIONS, HIJACKINGS, BOMBINGS OR KIDNAPPINGS. THESE MAY INCLUDE FACILITIES WHERE U.S. CITIZENS AND OTHER FOREIGNERS CONGREGATE OR VISIT, INCLUDING RESIDENTIAL AREAS, CLUBS, RESTAURANTS, PLACES OF WORSHIP, SCHOOLS, HOTELS, OUTDOOR RECREATION EVENTS OR RESORTS. U.S. CITIZENS SHOULD REMAIN IN A HEIGHTENED STATE OF PERSONAL SECURITY AWARENESS WHEN ATTENDANCE AT SUCH LOCATIONS IS UNAVOIDABLE. EMBASSY BRATISLAVA FACILITIES REMAIN AT A HEIGHTENED STATE OF ALERT. THESE FACILITIES MAY TEMPORARILY CLOSE OR SUSPEND PUBLIC SERVICES FROM TIME TO TIME TO ASSESS THEIR SECURITY POSTURE. ¶5. THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC HAS A +ACI-MEDIUM+ACI- RATE OF CRIME, ALTHOUGH VIOLENT CRIME IS RELATIVELY UNCOMMON. VISITORS ARE URGED TO EXERCISE REASONABLE PRECAUTIONS. IF YOU MUST WALK ALONE AT NIGHT, KEEP TO POPULOUS AND WELL-LIT AREAS. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR WALLET, PURSE, HANDBAG AND CELLULAR TELEPHONE, AS ALL ARE POPULAR TARGETS OF THE LOCAL THIEVES. THE LOCAL PICKPOCKETS ARE PROFESSIONAL AND MOST ACTIVE DURING THE SUMMER. THEY TEND TO UTILIZE DISTRACTION TECHNIQUES TO CONFUSE THEIR TARGET, PREFERRING LOCATIONS SUCH AS SHOPPING CENTERS, MARKETS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN THE VICINITY OF THE +ACI-OLD TOWN+ACI-, NEAR MAJOR HOTELS WHERE FOREIGNERS STAY AND TOURIST SITES, AND THE NIGHT TRAINS TO PRAGUE AND WARSAW. POWER STRUGGLES WITHIN THE ORGANIZED CRIME, WHICH CAN BE VIOLENT, OCCUR FROM TIME TO TIME. THIS ACTIVITY IS NOT/NOT DIRECTED AGAINST AMERICANS OR OTHER FOREIGNERS. THE RATE OF AUTO THEFT, WHICH IS ALSO CONNECTED TO ORGANIZED CRIME, IS VERY HIGH IN BRATISLAVA. UP-MARKET EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN CARS ARE PREFERRED TARGETS. THE USE OF ALARM SYSTEMS OR ANTI-THEFT DEVICES IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED. ¶6. MEDICAL: IF YOU EXPERIENCE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY AFTER WORK HOURS, CONTACT THE EMBASSY DUTY OFFICER AT CELLPHONE 0903-703-666. IF YOU CANNOT REACH THE DUTY OFFICER, THE EMBASSY HAS A CONTRACT WITH AN ENGLISH SPEAKING SLOVAK DOCTOR, DR. CAPOVA, WHO IS AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY TO PROVIDE CONSULTATIONS AND ARRANGE TREATMENT AT LOCAL HOSPITALS. DR. CAPOVA CAN BE REACHED AT 6252 5068 (HOME) OR AT 0904 637 836 (CELL PHONE). TELL DR. CAPOVA THAT YOU ARE WITH THE U.S. EMBASSY AND REQUIRE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE. IF NECESSARY, DIAL 155 TO CONTACT THE CITY AMBULANCE SERVICE. WEISER NNNN