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

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