COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR NANCY WENTZLER AND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002327 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EFIN OTRA TU SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR NANCY WENTZLER AND TERESA RUTLEDGE TO TRAVEL TO TURKEY MAY 11-13,2006 REF: TREASURY 061515Z ¶1. Embassy Ankara welcomes and grants country clearance to Nancy Wentzler, Deputy Comptroller and Chief Economist and Teresa Rutledge, Senior International Advisor for travel to Turkey from May 11-13, 2006. Purpose for the visit is to meet with the BDDK, the Central Bank, US Banks and other Financial Market participants. ¶2. Point of contact for the visit at Embassy Ankara is Deputy ECON Counselor Andy Snow, who can be reached through the Embassy switchboard at 90-312-455-5555 extension 2251. ¶3. In Istanbul, Point of Contact is Pol-ECON Chief Stuart Smith, who can be reached through the Consulate switchboard at 90-212-335-9000 extension 0. No hotel is needed in Ankara, they will travel to Istanbul and stay at the Hilton. ¶4. Hotel reservations in Istanbul have been made at the Hilton Hotel, Cunhuriyet Caddesi, 34367, Harbiye, Istanbul for the nights of May 11-12. Confirmation numbers are 853613 and 853612. Telephone 90-212-315-6000, fax 90-212-296-2953, www.hilton.com. ¶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 obtaine 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 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. ANKARA 00002327 002 OF 002 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: Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON