COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR DIPLOMATIC POST OFFICE

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000188

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR A/LM/PMP/DPM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT ADPM LO
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR DIPLOMATIC POST OFFICE
(DPO) FIELD TEST KICK-OFF

REF: SECSTATE 38963


1. EMBASSY BRATISLAVA WELCOMES MR. ALEX KIRKPATRICK,
MR. TIM KEITZ, MR. ED FRITTS, AND MR. MIKE FRANCIS AND
GRANTS COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR THE PERIOD OF MARCH 2 TO
MARCH 4, 2004. THE EMBASSY POINT OF CONTACT FOR YOUR
VISIT IS MARCIA DOUGHERTY, INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
OFFICER. PHONE NUMBER IS +420-2-5922-3075 (OFFICE). THE
FAX LINE IS +420-2-5441-5148. CELLPHONE NUMBER OF DUTY
OFFICER IS +420-903-703-666. RESERVATION HAS BEEN MADE
AT THE HOTEL DANUBE FOR 2 NIGHTS OF MARCH 2-3, 2004
(ADDRESS: RYBNE SQ. 1, BRATISLAVA, TEL.+420-2-5934-
0833, RES.NO 48425, HOTEL RATE IS 110,00 USD).
Transport from Vienna to Bratislava has been arranged.


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.

THAYER


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