Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA5955
2006-10-16 14:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR PMA OFFICER SARA L. HORNER

Tags:  OTRA APER IZ TU 
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VZCZCXRO0437
PP RUEHDA
DE RUEHAK #5955/01 2891453
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 161453Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9416
INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0775
RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA PRIORITY 1233
RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 005955 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA APER IZ TU
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR PMA OFFICER SARA L. HORNER

REF: BAGHDAD 03829

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 005955

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA APER IZ TU
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR PMA OFFICER SARA L. HORNER

REF: BAGHDAD 03829


1. Post grants country clearance for Sara L. Horner to visit
Turkey for the purpose of accompanying Embassy officers on
familiarization travel to southeastern Turkey and the
Turkey-Iraq border area during the period October 16-19.
POCs for the visit are PMA Counselor Carl Siebentritt and
Assistant Army Attache Randy Smith. Lodging arrangements
have been made at the Swisshotel in Ankara as requested.


2. Visas: All Americans traveling to Turkey must have a
valid visa. Travelers without a visa can obtain a visa valid
for one entry/three months at port of entry upon payment of a
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.


3. 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 1-800-232-3299; or via
the internet at HTTP//www.cdc.gov.


4. 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, 2003 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 continue.

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://USCONSULATE-ISTANBUL.ORG.TR


5. For further information regarding travel in Turkey,
consult the consular information sheet. The consulate
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) websites:
HTTP://WWW.TRAVEL.STATE.GOV/TURKEY.HTML

--US Embassy Ankara:
HTTP://WWW.USEMB-ANKARA.ORG.TR

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at

ANKARA 00005955 002 OF 002


http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/

WILSON