USUNESCO: COUNTRY CLEARANCE USGS DEVINE+1

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 008318

SIPDIS

FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS
FOR INT/USGS/RESTON/JSAFFER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KSCA TPHY OTRA ECON SENV TBIO AORC FR
SUBJECT: USUNESCO: COUNTRY CLEARANCE USGS DEVINE+1

REF: STATE 215862


1. As requested in reftel, country clearance is
granted for Senior Advisor for Science Applications
James F. Devine and acting Director Patrick Leahy to
travel to Paris (12/15-12/17) to meet with UNESCO
Science Staff and U.S. Mission to UNESCO.


2. Control officer is Science Attach, Nancy
Cooper. She may be reached by phone or fax (tel:
33-1-4524-8491; cellphone: 06-20-43-71-57, fax:
33-1-4524-7458) and by e-mail at
coopernj@state.gov.


3. IN THE EVENT OF A CRISIS OR SERIOUS
INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT INVOLVING THE UNITED
STATES, YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CONTACT YOUR
CONTROL OFFICER.


4. EMBASSY MEDIA POLICY STIPULATES THAT ANY
CONTACT WITH VISITORS WITH THE MEDIA BE
COORDINATED THROUGH THE EMBASSY PRESS OFFICE AT 01-
4312-2833.


5. EMBASSY WISHES TO REMIND VISITORS THAT VISAS
ARE REQUIRED FOR HOLDERS OF U.S. DIPLOMATIC OR
OFFICIAL PASSPORTS ON OFFICIAL BUSINESS IN FRANCE.



6. Action request: each visitor must bring a copy of
his/her travel orders (or forward fiscal data) to cover
costs of visit. Each agency, organization, or visiting
delegation will be charged for the actual costs
attributed to their visit. These costs include, but
are not limited to, American and FSN overtime, field
travel by Embassy employees, vehicle rentals, long
distance telephone calls, equipment rentals,
representational events and all other costs that are
directly attributable to the visit. Airport pickup is
provide only for employees at the rank of Assistant
Secretary or above. Other visitors should take a taxi

SIPDIS
or Air France bus.

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Information specific to USUNESCO
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7. New office address: the U.S. Mission to
UNESCO is located at 12, avenue Raphael, in the
16th arrondissement, phone: (33-1) 45.24.74.56 and
fax: (33-1) 45.24.74.58.


8. U.S. mission control officers are responsible
for notifying heads of visiting delegations in the
event of an emergency. Heads of delegations (or
his/her designate) are responsible for relaying
emergency information to their delegation members
and should request local contact numbers from
members. Members of delegation, in turn, are
responsible for providing contact information to
their delegation leader (or designate).


9. If applicable, heads of delegation are
responsible for ensuring proper coordination of
all U.S. delegation activities and for submitting
reporting cables of conference results prior to
departure.


10. U.S. mission accommodation exchange is
available (from 10:00 a.m. To 11:00 a.m. On
Monday, Wednesday and Friday only) for cashing
U.S. dollar checks for euros at the official rate
upon presentation of a passport and social
security number. Exchange limit is 2,000 U.S.
dollars per day. Delegates may also bring
ATM/debit/credit cards or cash/travelers' checks
for exchange on the local market.


11. The U.S. Mission to UNESCO is a lock-and-leave
facility, open from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. After-
hours access to the mission, which requires the
presence of a cleared US UNESCO employee, must be
arranged in advance with the control officer.


12. All mission voltage is 220v and wall plugs
are standard European round plugs. The Mission
does not provide transformers, or u.s.-to-European
plug adapters. Please plan accordingly if you are
bringing your own electronic devices.

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Non-USUNESCO specific information
--------------


13. Following is current security information for
France:

(A) Current situation: Travelers should be aware that
the significant unrest that began in the northern
suburbs of Paris Oct. 27 has now spread to several
locations within the city limits of Paris, and to many
other cities throughout France. Check the Embassy
website for the latest Warden Message:
http://france.usembassy.gov

Travelers using the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris
should be aware that the train between the airport and
Paris passes through an affected area and has
occasionally been disrupted. Travelers should rely
instead on airport buses or taxis to downtown Paris.

(B) Terrorism: The current terrorism threat in France
mirrors the general worldwide threat. Trans-national
terror groups such as al-Qaida likely have a presence
in France and do present a general threat. French law
enforcement and intelligence services are effective in
responding to this threat and remain in a heightened
state of alert, but cannot completely negate it. For
this reason American citizens should practice good
personal security when visiting France. Remaining
unpredictable is perhaps the simplest but most
effective way of ensuring personal safety. This is
particularly true when departing or arriving at your
place of residence. Being aware of your surroundings
and suspicious persons or activities is also critically
important. Do not accept packages, do not open hotel
doors to strangers and immediately report any
suspicious activities to the police (telephone 17) and
Regional Security Office (telephone 33 1 43 12 27 96).

(C) Crime: Street crime in French cities is similar to
that in most large metropolitan areas. The two most
frequent crimes are pick pocketing and snatch/run
theft. These criminals most often ply their trade on
public transportation routes used by tourists and at
tourist sites. In Paris, visitors should be
particularly alert when using Metro lines numbers one
and two, in addition to the RER trains serving the
airports. Tourist sites such as the Eiffel Tower,
Montmartre, the major museums and the Avenue des Champs
Elysees are all areas of heavy activity. Visitors
should use hotel safes whenever possible to store
valuables and excess cash. Awareness should go up when
conditions are crowded. Maintain control of cameras
and bags; do not carry these items behind you.
Criminals on metros often push into you for distraction
and pickpocket while doing so. Another technique is to
grab valuables and escape just as the metro doors are
closing. If credit cards are stolen, proceed to the
nearest telephone and immediately notify the card
issuer. Stolen credit cards are used immediately.
Whenever possible, take a seat or keep your back to a
wall when on the metro system. It is also recommended
that a photocopy of your passport identification page
be carried in lieu of the passport itself. Report any
incidents to the Regional Security Office as soon as
possible.

(D) Electronic devices: privately owned laptops and
personal computers are prohibited in controlled access
areas (CAAs) of the Mission and consulates. Travelers
with USG unclassified and classified laptop or notebook
computers should review '95 State 244394 (classified
machines) and '95 State 243825 (unclassified machines)
and notify the Information Management Office (IMO)
before bringing these machines into a CAA. Cellular
telephones are also prohibited in the CAA and must be
left outside this area. Questions concerning other
types of electronic devices may be directed to the
Information Management Office or Regional Security
Office.

(E) Travelers planning to stay longer than 30 days are
required to schedule a security briefing with the RSO.
For additional threat assessment information regarding
France and/or Europe, you may contact DS/ITA in the
State Department at (202) 663-0787.


14. Health Concerns: For current information on
health precautions for France, the U.S. Center for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website contains
an analysis at

http://www.cdc.gov/travel/diseases.htm.

KOSS