COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR BAGHDAD REFUGEE COORDINATOR

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 000674 SIPDIS SIPDIS AMMAN FOR KANESHIRO, BAGHDAD FOR HILL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC OTRA PREF SMIG SY IZ SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR BAGHDAD REFUGEE COORDINATOR CAMILLE HILL REF: BAGHDAD 411 ¶1. (U) Embassy Damascus welcomes and grants country clearance to Baghdad Refugee Coordinator Camille Hill for travel to Damascus from February 28 through March 4, 2006. After clearing customs, traveler will be met and assisted at the airport by an Embassy driver who will display a sign with the traveler's name. ¶2. (U) POC for this visit is Maria d.G. Olson, POL; Embassy phone (963)(11) 333-1342, Ext. 272; home phone (963)(11) 612-3845; mobile phone 094-405-166. ¶3. (U) Action Request: Each visitor must bring a copy of his/her travel orders or provide fiscal data for the costs of the visit. Costs include American and FSN overtime, transportation costs for official vehicles or commercial transportation long distance telephone calls, and other costs that are directly attributable to the visit. ¶4. (U) Visa Requirement: Each traveler 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. Persons arriving in Syria on a single entry visa and who will be staying in Syria in excess of 10 days are required to obtain a "verification stamp" in their passports after arrival. 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 will 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. ¶5. (U) Security Requirements: All visitors must receive a briefing from the Regional Security office upon arrival. ¶6. (U) Lodging: Per an e-mail request from Amman-based RefCoord Claire Kaneshiro, a single room has been reserved at the Four Seasons Hotel Damascus (telephone 963-11-339-1010) for the nights of Tuesday, February 28 - Thursday, March 2, departing the morning of March 3. The room rate of USD 110 is within per diem but does not include breakfast, a 10 percent service charge or 11 percent tax. The Four Seasons accepts major credit cards. ¶7. (U) Departure Tax and Flight Reconfirmation: Syria charges a departure tax of SP200 (approximately $4),payable in SP cash only. Those travelers on diplomatic passports are exempt, but those with official passports are required to pay the tax. Visitors also should confirm onward flight reservations 72 hours prior to departure. ¶8. (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. 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. ¶9. (U) Communications: 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. IVG lines are available 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 using either of two Syrian ISPs or through the Embassy's Internet connection. (Check with the ISC for accounts and configuration settings.) There are also several Internet "cafes" available. Cell phone roaming is available in Syria for GSM systems only. Please contact the Embassy in advance to make arrangements for cell phone access if you do not have a GSM system phone. ¶10. (U) Currency Exchange: The Embassy Class B cashier provides accommodation exchange from dollars to Syrian pounds at the current rate for institutions (SP 53 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. (A branch office is located in the Sheraton Hotel.) It is illegal to exchange money except at authorized exchange points (i.e., the Embassy or branches of the Commercial Bank). Post recommends against using any type of credit or debit cards for purchases or currency exchange while in Syria. ¶11. (U) Photos: Photography of individuals in uniform (including police),government buildings, and military installations is strictly forbidden. ¶12. (U) Threat Assessment: Presently in Syria there are no specific threats against official or unofficial American travelers. Political developments in the Middle East are fluid and can quickly affect the security environment in Syria. 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, precipitating the withdrawal from Lebanon of Syrian military forces. The entire political, economic, and security implications of this change remain unknown. All Americans traveling to Syria should try to be unpredictable in their activities. They should avoid large crowds and gatherings and should report suspicious incidents to the Regional Security Officer. Further, they should 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