COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR CODEL DODD, DECEMBER 19-21

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 005390

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA/ELA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AFIN AMGT ASEC OREP SY
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR CODEL DODD, DECEMBER 19-21

REF: SECSTATE 197558


1. (U) Embassy Damascus welcomes and grants country
clearance for the visit of Senator Christopher Dodd, and the
other members of his delegation: Ms. Janice O'Connell (SFRC),
and COL Mike Barbero, U.S. Army Senate Liaison.


2. (U) Control officer and point of contact for this visit
is Pol/Econ Counselor Todd Holmstrom, who can be reached at
work: (963)-(11) 3391-4287; cell: (963) 094-270-556; home:
(963)-(11) 611-3237; or embassy fax number: (963)-(11)
3391-3999.


3. (U) Fiscal Information: Thank you for the fiscal data
for the costs of the visit. Costs include, but are not
limited to, American and FSN overtime, border crossing
fees, field travel by Embassy employees, transportation
costs for official vehicles, long distance telephone calls,
equipment rentals, representational events, and other costs
directly attributable to the visit.


4. (U) Visa Requirement: Every traveler must have a valid
Syrian visa prior to departure for Damascus. The Syrian
government will not normally grant airport or border visas.
Travelers should apply for visas well in advance, as
processing time is often slow. Currently, Syrian visas for
Americans can only be issued by the Syrian Embassy in
Washington. Persons traveling on passports bearing an
Israeli visa or entry or exit stamp, or persons born in the
Gaza region or of Gazan descent, will be refused entry to
Syria. The Syrian government rigidly enforces restrictions
on prior travel to Israel. Israeli stamps in 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 to 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.


5. (U) Security Requirements: Post did not see security
clearances for the delegation in the country clearance
request, which should be provided via e-mail or cable.


6. (U) Transportation: Controloff and an embassy expediter
will meet Senator Dodd and the other members of his
delegation
on December 19 at the Damascus airport. Post will also
arrange for transportation to and from official meetings.
Controloff and expediter will see Senator Dodd and his
delegation off at the Damascus airport on December 21.


7. (U) Accommodation: reservations were made for the
delegation at the Four Seasons for December 19-21.
Confirmation numbers are 131770, 131772, 131774. Hotel
telephone number is 963 (11) 339-1000, fax: 963 (11)
339-1009. The daily room rate is USD 110, plus 10 percent
service charge, and 11 percent tax, breakfast not included.
The maximum time granted for free cancellation is six p.m. on
the day of arrival.


8. (U) Communications Support: Post will provide Senator
Dodd and other members of his delegation with an
international cell phone for official use while
in-country. Long-distance telephone calls can also be
placed from the Embassy. The internet can be accessed
through a stand-alone PC in the Embassy. There is no charge
for this service. The internet can also be accessed from
hotels in Damascus by dialing to one of three different
ISP's in Syria.


9. (U) Currency Exchange: As the delegation will overnight in
Damascus (per reftel),Post will disburse per diem to the
delegation for December 19 and 20. The Embassy Class B
Cashier provides exchange from dollars to Syrian pounds at
the current rate for
institutions, against cash, traveler's checks, and, with
the authorization of the financial management officer,
personal checks. Reverse accommodation exchange is not
authorized, in accordance with Syrian government
regulations. Personal checks cannot be cashed on the final
day of the employee's stay. The last check must be
presented at least one day before departure. Travelers can
also 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 and branches
of the Commercial Bank).


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


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 must pay.


12. (U) Health: Health facilities in Damascus are not up
to U.S. 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. It is recommended that all other travelers
have medical evacuation insurance sufficient to cover
evacuation by chartered air ambulance, or ensure that their
agency will cover the cost.


13. (U) Threat Assessment: Political developments and
security in the Middle East sometimes change quickly. The
Embassy was attacked, without warning, in September 2006,
by a small group of terrorists using automatic gunfire and
grenades. They attempted, unsuccessfully, to detonate a
vehicle-borne improvised explosive device at the real gate.
One local guard was seriously injured and there was at
least one Syrian fatality in addition to the killing of the
four attackers. Since the attack, the Embassy has taken
additional measures to improve its security posture.

In February 2005, the former Prime Minister of Lebanon was
assassinated in Beirut, prompting the U.S. to recall its
Ambassador to Syria for consultations. There are no plans
to assign a replacement, reflecting the ongoing
difficulties in U.S.-Syrian relations.
Government-sanctioned demonstrations have occasionally
included expressions of anti-American or anti-Western
sentiment. Violent mobs attacked three Scandinavian
embassies in February 2006.

In general, Americans in Syria should vary their schedules,
avoid large crowds and gatherings, and 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 also read and follow
the guidance in the latest public announcements and State
Department travel advisories for Syria.
CORBIN