COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR STEPHEN STEGER

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000513 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMGT PREL SL OSCE NATO PERM SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR STEPHEN STEGER REF: STATE 116040 ¶1. EMBASSY BRATISLAVA WELCOMES EUR/RPM NATO DESK OFFICER STEPHEN STEGER AND GRANTS COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR THE PERIOD OF MAY 28 THROUGH JUNE 1, 2004. THE EMBASSY POINT OF CONTACT FOR YOUR VISIT IS KASSIE KOHLER, POL OFFICER. THE PHONE NUMBER IS +420-2-5920-3166 (OFFICE). THE FAX LINE IS +420-2-5922-3026. CELLPHONE NUMBER OF DUTY OFFICER IS +420-903-703-666. RESERVATION HAS BEEN MADE AT THE HOTEL MARROL'S (ADDRESS: TOBRUCKA 4, BRATISLAVA, TEL. +420-2-5778-4600, RES.N0 4978). ROOM CHARGE AT THE HOTEL IS USD 136 WHICH IS WITHIN BRATISLAVA PERDIEM. POST UNDERSTANDS NO OTHER LOGISTICAL ASSISTANCE IS REQUESTED. ¶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: POST REMINDS TRAVELLER THAT WE ARE UNDER A HIGH LEVEL THREAT OF POTENTIAL TERRORIST ACTIVITIES. THIS WARNING IS ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO THOSE OF US IN DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS OVERSEAS. THE U.S. GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO RECEIVE CREDIBLE INDICATIONS THAT EXTREMIST GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS ARE PLANNING ADDITIONAL TERRORIST ACTIONS AGAINST U.S. INTERESTS WORLDWIDE. SUCH ACTIONS MAY INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SUICIDE OPERATIONS. BECAUSE SECURITY AND SECURITY AWARENESS HAVE BEEN ELEVATED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, THE TERRORISTS MAY TARGET U.S. INTERESTS OVERSEAS. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT AMERICAN CITIZENS MAY BE TARGETED FOR KIDNAPPING OR ASSASSINATION. EMPLOYEES ARE REMINDED TO REMAIN VIGILANT WITH REGARD TO THEIR PERSONAL SECURITY AND TO EXERCISE CAUTION. ¶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-LIGHTED 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 BETWEEN ORGANIZED CRIME ELEMENTS, 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 N NNNN