TURKEY COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR CG MCKAY +3

UNCLAS ANKARA 004986 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/ECC: JFEENEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC KCRM PARM SNAR TU SUBJECT: TURKEY COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR CG MCKAY +3 (SEP 17-23 2006) REF: COGARD TRACEN YORKTOWN 241137Z AUG 06 ¶1. Embassy Ankara grants country clearance to Coast Guard Officials Raymond McKay, Irvin Jones, Noel Bolleurs and Daniel Vazquez who will travel to Izmir to conduct an EXBS-sponsored Port Security/Port Vulnerability workshop from September 17 to 23, 2006. ¶2. Control Officer is Kevin Lyon who can be contacted via the IVG 295-2525 or Commercial (90)(312)455-5555 ext.2525 or through Embassy switchboard ext 0. ¶3. Lodging arrangements have been made and will be provided via separate correspondence. ¶4. Visas: All Americans entering Turkey must have a valid visa. Travelers without a visa can obtain a visa (valid for one entry for three months at ports of entry upon payment of a USD 20 fee payable in cash). There is no fee for official travel if the visa is obtained outside of Turkey. ¶5. Health Safety: Information on vaccinations and other health precautions can be obtained from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The hotline for international travelers (tel: 1- 877-394-8747),fax: 1-800-cdc-fax(1-800-232-3299),or via their internet site at: HTTP://WWW.CSC.GO. ¶6. Security Assessment: In light of ongoing military operations in Iraq and continued operations in support of the war on terrorism there remains the potential for both transnational terrorist groups with anti-Western sympathies, to include Kongra Gel (formerly PKK),Revolutionary People's Liberation/Front (DHKP/C),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) continue to operate in Turkey. Attacks over the last few years, attributed to these groups, have occurred in the Aegean and Mediterranean coastal resort areas, as well as in Istanbul. Most of the attacks, generally small-scale bombings, have occurred in neighborhoods of Istanbul not generally frequented by official Americans or tourists. Also in 2005 and 2006 public buses have been set on fire, with the most recent incident resulting in three deaths. Thus far, these attacks on buses also have taken place in areas of Istanbul distant from official American or tourist destinations. A Kurdish group, ostensibly aligned with the PKK terrorists, 
claimed responsibility for many of the incidents noted above, and in April 2006 this group issued a statement renewing a threat to target Turkey's tourism industry. Violent demonstrations have occurred throughout Turkey, the most recent in Istanbul and in several cities in Southeastern Turkey. Just as with members of Mission Turkey, USG visitors are required to obtain RSO Ankara and DCM approval for travel to the Southeast. 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 truck bombs. On November 20, 2003 the British Consulate General and the London based HSBC Bank in Istanbul were struck by powerful explosions, killing dozens and wounding hundreds. Through prosecutions of those responsible are still ongoing, indications are that the indigenous radical Islamic terrorist group responsible was supported by the Al-Qa'ida network. The August 2005 discovery in Antalya of a potential plot against maritime interests and subsequent arrest of a Syrian Al-Qa'ida facilitator and planner further attest to the ongoing transnational threat. The incidence of crime, both violent and the more traditional tourists crimes (pick pocketing, purse-snatching, etc.),is relatively low throughout Turkey. However, over the last year, there has been a marked increase in the number of crimes reported to Consulate General Istanbul. Much of the crime is centered in the areas frequented by tourists, Consulate employees and official visitors. Visitors should be particularly attentive for pick pockets in and around the Sultanahmet, Taksim Square, and Istiklal Caddesi areas of Istanbul. Often pick pocketing is preceded by some sort of diversion, such as an argument or fight, or children asking to assist tourists, for example with their bags. If you encounter such activity, secure your wallet or purse and quickly leave the area. Another scam that is becoming more prevalent is that of a stranger approaching a visitor and striking up a conversation which is continued inside a restaurant or club, where one is either drugged and robbed or presented with an enormous bill and intimidated into paying it. 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 web-sites: --Embassy Ankara: HTTP://WWW.USEMB-ANKARA.ORG.TR (Click on Security Matters) --Consulate General Istanbul: HTTP://WWW.USCONSULATE- ISTANBUL.ORG.TR ¶7. 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.TURKISHDAILYNEWS.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 Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON