Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAKU1539
2006-10-21 08:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Baku
Cable title:  

COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR MARK SULLIVAN, EBRD

Tags:  OTRA AJ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0002
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKB #1539/01 2940828
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 210828Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 0328
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1526
UNCLAS BAKU 001539 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA AJ
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR MARK SULLIVAN, EBRD

REF: LONDON 7482

UNCLAS BAKU 001539

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA AJ
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR MARK SULLIVAN, EBRD

REF: LONDON 7482


1. EMBASSY BAKU GRANTS COUNTRY CLEARANCE TO MARK SULLIVAN,
U.S. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EBRD, FOR THE PERIOD OCTOBER 23-27,

2006. PURPOSE OF VISIT IS TO REVIEW EBRD PROJECTS IN
AZERBAIJAN, MEET WITH MEMBERS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND
EBRD STAFF. CONTROL OFFICER FOR THE VISIT IS ECON OFFICER
DAVID MCCORMICK; HE CAN BE REACHED AT THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS:

INTERNATIONAL LINE: 994-12-4980335 X 4240
CELL PHONE: 994-50-206-9603
INTERNATIONAL FAX: 994-12-4656671
IVG FAX: 841-4289.
MCCORMICKDL(AT)STATE.GOV


2. ACCOMMODATIONS: PER REFTEL, WE UNDERSTAND THAT SULLIVAN
ALREADY HAS RESERVATIONS AT THE SHEKI SARAY HOTEL FOR THE
NIGHT OF OCTOBER 23 AND AT THE PARK HYATT HOTEL FOR THE
NIGHTS OF OCTOBER 24-27.


3. VISAS: ALL TRAVELERS ARE ADVISED TO OBTAIN VISAS FOR
ALL/ALL
STOPS ON THEIR ITINERARY PRIOR TO THEIR DEPARTURE. WE
RECOMMEND
THAT TRAVELERS OBTAIN AZERI VISAS FROM THE EMBASSY OF
AZERBAIJAN AT
THE POINT OF ORIGIN, AND THAT THEY ALLOW 10 DAYS FOR
PROCESSING OF
THE VISA REQUEST. IF VISAS CANNOT BE OBTAINED AT THE
TRAVELER'S
POINT OF ORIGIN, AN AIRPORT VISA CAN BE ISSUED UPON ARRIVAL.
PLEASE
PROOF READ YOUR VISA CAREFULLY. AN OCCASIONAL EMBASSY GUEST
HAS
RECEIVED A VISA WITH AN ERROR IN IT. IF TRAVELING ON A
DIPLOMATIC
PASSPORT THERE IS NO FEE. IF TRAVELING ON TOURIST OR OFFICIAL
PASSPORTS, THERE IS A 40 USD FEE FOR A ONE ENTRY, ONE MONTH
VISA.
PASSPORT ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE AT THE PASSPORT COUNTER IN
ROOM
1258 OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT. THE EMBASSY OF AZERBAIJAN
REQUIRES A
MINIMUM OF TWO WORKING DAYS TO PROCESS VISA REQUESTS. SHOULD
THE
PROJECTED ITINERARY INCLUDE TRANSIT THROUGH TURKEY, VISITORS
MUST
OBTAIN TURKISH VISAS IN ADVANCE. BEARERS OF DIPLOMATIC OR
OFFICIAL
PASSPORTS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO PURCHASE AIRPORT VISAS IN
TURKEY AND
WILL BE DENIED EXIT FROM THE ISTANBUL AIRPORT. IF TRANSIT
THROUGH
RUSSIA IS NECESSARY, TRAVELERS MUST OBTAIN TRANSIT VISAS IN
ADVANCE.


4. CELL PHONES AND COMPUTER ACCESS:

--IF VISITORS REQUIRE ACCESS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE'S
OPENNET OR
CLASSNET SYSTEMS, THEY SHOULD ADVISE THEIR CONTROL OFFICER
(VIA
E-MAIL OR CABLE) OF THIS REQUIREMENT AT LEAST FIVE WORKDAYS
PRIOR TO
ARRIVAL. THE CONTROL OFFICER SHOULD IMMEDIATELY COMPLETE THE
APPROPRIATE SYSTEMS REQUEST FORM (S) AND PASS TO THE RSO.
THE RSO
WILL VERIFY THE SECURITY CLEARANCE OF THE INDIVIDUAL (S) AND
THEN
PASS THE REQUEST TO ISC.

--IF VISITORS REQUIRE CELLULAR TELEPHONE SERVICE WHILE IN
BAKU, THEY
MUST ADVISE THEIR CONTROL OFFICER (VIA E-MAIL OR CABLE) OF
THIS
REQUEST AT LEAST FIVE WORKDAYS PRIOR TO ARRIVAL. THIS REQUEST
MUST/MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY FISCAL DATA TO PAY FOR THE
REQUESTED
SERVICE (USD 100). THE CONTROL OFFICER SHOULD IMMEDIATELY
COMPLETE
A WORK ORDER AND PASS IT TO THE GSO.


5. TRAVEL ADVISORY: TRAVELERS ARE ADVISED ALSO THAT THE
ALTERNATE
LANDING SITE FOR BA FLIGHT LONDON-BAKU IS TBILISI, GEORGIA.
THE
ALTERNATE LANDING SITE WOULD BE USED ONLY IN SITUATIONS WHICH
PROHIBIT LANDING AT BAKU HEYDAR ALIYEV INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.


6. VISIT SCHEDULE: TBD.


7. WEB SITE: USEFUL INFORMATION FOR ALL TRAVELERS IS
AVAILABLE ON

THE INTERNET AT HTTP://BAKU.USEMBASSY.GOV. FOLLOW LINKS FOR
CONSULAR SERVICES: TRAVELING TO AZERBAIJAN.


8. GENERAL REMINDERS:

-- BRING SUFFICIENT CASH TO PAY FOR ALL EXPENSES EXCEPT
LODGING.
CREDIT CARDS ARE STILL ACCEPTED ONLY BY BUSINESSES THAT CATER
TO
FOREIGNERS, SUCH AS HOTELS, TRAVEL AGENCIES, INTERNATIONAL
AIRLINES
AND A FEW RESTAURANTS.

-- THE EMBASSY HAS A CIRRUS/PLUS NETWORK ATM MACHINE,
WHICH
ACCEPTS MOST U.S. BANK CARDS. IT DISPENSES BOTH THE LOCAL
CURRENCY
(AZERBAIJANI MANAT) AND U.S. DOLLARS.

-- BRING SUPPLIES OF ALL HARD-TO-FIND FOODS, TOILETRIES
AND
MEDICINES. WESTERN COMMODITIES ARE SOLD IN BAKU BUT ARE
EXPENSIVE
AND NOT ALWAYS AVAILABLE.

-- DRINK ONLY BOTTLED WATER; TAP WATER IS NOT POTABLE.


9. SECURITY: CRIME IN BAKU IS COMPARABLE WITH THAT OF MAJOR
U.S.
CITIES. VISITORS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION, AVOID WALKING
ALONE AFTER
DARK, AND BE AWARE OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS AT ALL TIMES.
STREET CRIME
INCLUDES PICKPOCKETS, JEWELRY SNATCHING AND ARMED ROBBERY. IF
CONFRONTED, NO RESISTANCE SHOULD BE GIVEN AND VALUABLES
SHOULD BE
SURRENDERED. MEDICAL FACILITIES ARE LIMITED IN DEALING WITH
MAJOR
TRAUMA CARE. VISITORS SHOULD KEEP THEIR PASSPORTS OR A COPY
WITH
THEM AT ALL TIMES. COUNTERFEIT U.S. DOLLARS ARE OFTEN PASSED
IN
BAKU. VISITORS SHOULD EXCHANGE MONEY ONLY AT THE MAJOR BANKS
AND
HOTELS, OR AT THE EMBASSY CASHIER.


10. SECURITY CLEARANCE LEVEL: ALL VISITORS WHO REQUIRE ACCESS
TO
CLEARED AREAS AND "NO ESCORT" ID BADGES MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF
THEIR
SECURITY CLEARANCE BY FRONT CHANNEL CABLE.


11. PER REFTEL, WE UNDERSTAND THAT NO EMBASSY TRANSPORTATION
ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED.
DERSE