COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR ROSSITZA PETROV

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000876 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC PARM PREL KSTC SI SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR ROSSITZA PETROV REF: USDOC 05380 ¶1. Embassy Ljubljana welcomes the visit of and grants Country Clearance to Export Control Specialist Rossitza Petrov, to travel to Ljubljana, Slovenia on January 28 - February 02, 2005. Mrs. Petrov will assist the Ministry of Economy and the DOC'S Local Subcontractor, ARCTUR, in conducting a two-day Internal Control Program (ICP) deployment workshop for Slovenian companies, January 30 - February 01, 2006. ¶2. The Control Officer for your visit is Michael Carpenter, Office phone: 386-1-200-5676, Fax: 386-1-426- 4284, Cell phone: 386-70-302-560, Unclassified email: CarpenterMR@state.gov. Post welcomes the opportunity for Ms. Petrov to brief the Embassy during her visit and requests that Ms. Petrov contact control officer Mike Carpenter to schedule a mutually convenient time for the briefing. ¶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 95, which is below per diem. 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 $30 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 10 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