COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR ALEXANDER PASCAL

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 003047

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA/ELA
NEA/SA/EX/HR FOR CHERYL PARKER, PROGRAM SPECIALIST

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT APER SY
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR ALEXANDER PASCAL

REF: SECSTATE 102303


1. (U) Embassy Damascus warmly welcomes and grants country
clearance to Alexander Pascal, 2006 Summer Intern, for travel
to Damascus from July 15 to August 20, 2006.


2. (U) POC for this visit is Elizabeth Lyne, Administrative
Assistant, who can be reached at (work) (963) (11) 333-1342,
Ext. 253 ; (cell) (963) (94) 230-106 (in-country
094-230-106); (home) (963) (11) 611-4282. Embassy fax number
is (963) (11) 224-7938.


3. (U) VISA REQUIREMENT: Traveler(s) must have a valid
Syrian visa prior to departure for Damascus. The Syrian
government will not/not normally grant airport (or border)
visas. Persons traveling on passports bearing an Israeli
visa or entry/exit stamp, or persons born in the Gaza region
or of Gazan descent, will be refused entry to Syria.
American citizens are cautioned that the Syrian government
rigidly enforces restrictions on prior travel to Israel.
Travelers with Israeli stamps in their passports, Jordanian
entry cachets, or cachets from Egypt or other countries that
suggest prior travel to Israel may cause Syrian immigration
authorities to refuse the traveler admission into Syria.
Likewise, the absence of entry stamps from a country adjacent
to Israel, which the traveler has just visited, will cause
Syrian immigration officials to refuse admittance. American
citizen travelers suspected of having traveled to Israel have
been detained for questioning.


4. (U) SECURITY REQUIREMENTS: (a) If not included in request
for country clearance, please provide level of security
clearance via immediate cable. Post cannot allow access to
the chancery compound or to the controlled access area
without official notification of clearance level. Valid
diplomatic passports or government identity cards do not
guarantee that the bearer has an appropriate security
clearance. (b) All visitors must receive a briefing from the
Regional Security Office immediately upon arrival.


5. (U) TRANSPORTATION: Per reftel, Alexander Pascal will be
traveling overland via service taxi from Amman to Damascus.
Per Graaf/Pascal e-mail of 06/15/2006, Pascal will be met by
an Embassy driver upon arrival to the U.S. Embassy in
Damascus, and transferred to his residence.


6. (U) LODGING: Per Graaf/Pascal e-mail of 06/11/2006, GSO
has approved use of an Embassy residence for Alexander Pascal
for the entire duration of his stay in Damascus. Additional
information regarding housing will be provided upon arrival.


7. (U) COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT: Long-distance telephone
calls (for official business only) can be placed from the
Embassy if the traveler provides a fund cite or has
authorization from the appropriate agency/section head at
post. The Internet can be accessed through a stand-alone PC
in the Embassy on a first-come, first-serve basis. There is
no charge for this service. Alternatively, the Internet may
be accessed from hotels in Damascus by placing a
long-distance call to an ISP outside Syria. There are also
several Internet "cafes" available.


8. (U) CURRENCY EXCHANGE: The Embassy Class B cashier
provides accommodation exchange from dollars to Syrian pounds
at the current rate for institutions (SP 50.80 to $1) against
cash, travelers checks, or, with the authorization of the
financial management officer, personal checks. Reverse
accommodation exchange is not authorized in accordance with
Syrian
government regulations. Alternatively, travelers can
purchase pounds at branches of the Commercial Bank of Syria.
It is illegal to exchange money except at authorized exchange
points (i.e., the Embassy or branches of the Commercial Bank).


9. (U) PHOTOGRAPHY: Photography of individuals in uniform
(including police),government buildings, and military
installations is strictly forbidden.


10. (U) TRAVEL TO LEBANON: Any official travel to Lebanon
from Syria by U.S. Government employees of any nationality is
strictly subject to country clearance from Embassy Beirut.
Unofficial travel to Lebanon of U.S. Government employees and
dependents also requires advance clearance from both Embassy
Beirut and the Department of State.


11. (U) DEPARTURE TAX: Syria charges a departure tax of
SP200 (approximately $4),payable in SP cash only. Travelers
with diplomatic passports are exempt, but those with official
passports are required to pay the tax.


12. (U) HEALTH: Health facilities in Damascus are not up to
US or European standards and facilities outside Damascus are
extremely limited. Only personnel covered under the State
Department's medical program and with a valid medical
clearance for Syria are eligible for medevac at USG cost. All
other visitors are recommended to have medical evacuation
insurance sufficient to cover evacuation by chartered air
ambulance or ensure their agency will voucher the cost.


13. (U) THREAT ASSESSMENT: There are no specific threats
against official or unofficial American travelers in Syria.
Political developments and security in the Middle East
sometimes change quickly. Violent mob attacks against U.S.
mission facilities in Syria occurred in 1998 and 2000 in
response to regional events. In February 2005, the former
Prime Minister of Lebanon was assassinated in Beirut,
prompting the U.S. to recall the Ambassador for
consultations. She has not returned to post. U.S.-Syria
bilateral relations remain problematic.
Government-sanctioned demonstrations have occasionally
included expressions of anti-American or anti-Western
sentiment. Violent mob attacks against three Scandinavian
embassies took place in February 2006. Americans in Syria
should vary their schedules. They should avoid large crowds
and gatherings and should report suspicious incidents to the
Regional Security Officer. They should also avoid electronic
financial transactions and should not carry valuables or
large amounts of cash in crowded shopping districts.
Visitors should read and follow the guidance contained in the
latest Public Announcements and State Department Travel
Advisory for Syria.
SECHE