COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR RENE ALEXANDER "ALEX"

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000292

SIPDIS


DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/PD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO OIIP SL PO
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR RENE ALEXANDER "ALEX"
ACOSTA

REF: STATE 077714


1. Embassy Ljubljana welcomes the visit of and grants
Country Clearance to U.S. Speaker Mr. Rene Alexander
"Alex" Acosta, to travel to Ljubljana, Slovenia on May
07-10, 2005, to discuss trafficking issues, in support
of post's objective to reduce trafficking in humans.


2. The Control Officer for your visit is Colleen
Hyland, Office phone: 386-1-200-5708, fax: 386-1-200-
5555, Cell phone: 386-70-323-664.


3. A reservation has been made for you at the Grand
Hotel Union, tel: 386-1-308-1270; FAX: 386-1-308-1015.
The cost of a single room is EUR 90. Please inform
Post of any changes in order to avoid a no-show bill.


4. As the Embassy has a very limited motor pool,
please take a taxi to the hotel. A taxi should cost
approximately SIT 6000 (about $32 US). Shuttle bus
service (8-passanger) is available to and from the
airport and Ljubljana at a cost of 2,000 Slovene
Tolars, or about 12 dollars (with additional discounts
for two or more passengers traveling together). One-
day advance notice is necessary to schedule the
shuttle. If you wish to take the shuttle bus from the
airport upon arrival, please contact your control
officer in advance. There are two change machines as
you come out of the customs area: the one on your left
will accept US dollars and the one on your right will
accept credit cards. During normal working hours you
can use the bank inside the regular departure area,
near the rental car counters.


5. The overall security threat level for U.S.
personnel and interests in Ljubljana, Slovenia is
considered to be low. Slovenia has a low crime rate
and violent crime is extremely rare. Nonetheless,
visitors should take normal security precautions and
are requested to report any suspected surveillance of
themselves or U.S. facilities to the Mission Security
Office. Visitors should avoid carrying large amounts
of cash and jewelry on their person and are urged to
use safe deposit boxes available in hotel. While very
uncommon, there have been some incidents of purse
snatching or pickpockets, usually at night outside of
bars. The threat from intelligence services remains
viable, and official visitors should take appropriate
measures to protect classified or sensitive
conversations and documents. Conversations on non-
secure lines and cell phones should be considered
subject to compromise.

ROBERTSON


NNNN

2005LJUBLJ00292 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED



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