COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR TREASURY ADVISOR JIM RUTH.

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000099

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ECON LO
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR TREASURY ADVISOR JIM RUTH.

REF: TREASURY 211622Z JAN 04


1. EMBASSY BRATISLAVA WELCOMES MR. JIM RUTH AND GRANTS
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR THE PERIOD OF FEBRUARY 8 TO FEBRUARY 10,

2004. THE EMBASSY POINT OF CONTACT FOR YOUR VISIT IS KATHY
MCENANY, FASCELL FELLOW. PHONE NUMBER IS +420-2-5922-
3376(OFFICE). THE FAX LINE IS +420-2-5922 3026. CELLPHONE
NUMBER OF DUTY OFFICER IS +420-903-703-666. POST UNDERSTANDS NO
FURTHER ASSISTANCE IS REQUESTED.


2. SECURITY CLEARANCES AND BUILDING ACCESS: IF NECESSARY, THE
REGIONAL SECURITY OFFICER WILL PROVIDE A TEMPORARY EMBASSY
BADGE FOR YOU. HOWEVER A CLEAR TELEGRAPHIC INDICATION OF YOUR
SECURITY LEVEL MUST BE PROVIDED FOR UNESCORTED ACCESS INTO ANY
MISSION FACILITY.


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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