COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR US INTERAGENCY AVIAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 000136

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/PGI NERISSA COOK AND CELESTE CONNORS
FOR OES/IHA JACK CRODDY, HAROLD FOSTER AND REBECCA DALEY FOR
EUR/SE GRANT MCMURRAN AND BAXTER HUNT

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA TBIO CDC WHO TU AGMT
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR US INTERAGENCY AVIAN
INFLUENZA TEAM TO TRAVEL TO TURKEY

REF: STATE 007161


1. Embassy Ankara grants country clearance for the US
Interagency Avian Influenza Team traveling to Turkey
arriving January 16 to assess the Avian Influenza outbreak
in Turkey and to assist the response by the GoT, WHO and
FAO/OIE.


2. Embassy Ankara will meet and assist team members at
Ankara Airport. Ankara will also expedite the issuance of
visas for those who need them. Transportation will be
provided at the airport and while team members are in-
country.


3. Hotel reservations have been secured at the Sheraton
Hotel in Ankara. Tel: +90-312-468-5454, Fax +90-312-468-

5497.


4. Control Officer for the visit is EST Officer David Young
who can be reached through the Embassy Operator at (90 312)
455 5555, mobile phone (90) 532 620 3846, or e-mail at
YoungDK@state.gov.


5. Visas: All Americans traveling to Turkey must have a
valid visa. Effective April 1, 2004, travelers without
a visa can obtain a visa valid for one entry/three months
at port of entry upon payment of USD 20 fee. This fee is
payable only in U.S. Dollars cash. There is no fee for
official travel if the visa is obtained outside of
Turkey.


6. Health safety: Information on vaccinations and other
health precautions can be obtained from the Center for
Disease Control and Prevention Hotline for International
Travelers (tel: 1-877-394-8747; fax 1-800-CDC-FAXX, 1-
800-232-3299; or via the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov.


7. Security Assessment: In the aftermath of Operation
Iraqi Freedom (OIF) there continues to be the potential
for both transnational and indigenous terrorist groups to
target U.S. interests in Turkey. After the Gulf War, the
predecessor to the Turkish Terrorist Group Revolutionary
People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C) assassinated
four Americans in Turkey and carried out numerous
bombings of U.S. targets (mostly private sector
businesses, although two rockets were directed toward the
Consulate General in Istanbul). Subsequent to the ending
of OIF hostilities, there have been isolated terrorist
bombings attributed to DHKP/C and other indigenous
terrorist groups in protest of OIF. Other Turkish
terrorist groups with anti-Western sympathies include
Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (MLKP) Turkish Communist
Party/Marxist Leninist (TKP/ML),Turkish Workers and
Peasants Revolutionary Army (TIKKO) and Islamic Greater
Eastern Raiders/Front (IBDA/C).!

Al-Qa'ida threats to target U.S. facilities in Turkey
have been public knowledge for some time. On November
15, 2003, two synagogues in Istanbul were the targets of
suicide car bombs. On November 20, the British Consulate
General and the London-based HSBC bank in Istanbul were
damaged by powerful explosions, killing dozens and
wounding hundreds. These incidents represent a
significant change from prior attacks in Turkey, which
have previously involved small-scale, random bombings and
small numbers of casualties. The investigations of these
incidents in Istanbul remain open but transnational
terrorist links are suspected. The potential for
violence and terrorist actions against U.S. citizens and
interests continues.

The Turkish National Police (TNP) is quite responsive in
their role as protector of U.S. diplomatic and military
interests in Turkey. The TNP has provided enhanced
coverage at each of our facilities in Ankara, Istanbul,
Adana and Izmir. The incidence of crime, both violent
and the more traditional tourist crimes (pick pocketing,
purse-snatching, etc.),is relatively low throughout
Turkey. Visitors to Istanbul should be aware that
tourist-type crimes are more prevalent there, especially
in the traditionalist tourist areas, such as Sultanahmet
and Istiklal Caddesi. The security office encourages
visitors to report any security incidents, including
surveillance, to the RSO immediately. Useful security

ANKARA 00000136 002 OF 002


information about Turkey is available on the following
websites:

--Embassy Ankara: HTTP://WWW.USEMB-ANKARA.ORG.TR (Click
on Security Matters)

--Consulate General Istanbul: HTTP://WWW.USCONSULATE-
ISTANBUL.ORG.TR


8. For further information regarding travel in Turkey
consult the Consular Information Sheet. The Consular
Information Sheet and public announcements are available
on the internet at: http://travel.state.gov.

Other information is available on the following websites:

--The State Department Consular Affairs (ca) website:
http://www.travel.state.gov/turkey.html

--Turkish Daily News (English language Turkish
newspaper): http://www.turkishdaily news.com

--Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
http://www.mfa.gov.tr

--The Republic of Turkey home page:
http://www.turkey/index.html

--Weather for Turkey:
http://www.wunderground.com/global/tu.html

WILSON