COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR TSA ARMEN SAHAGIAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 003291 SIPDIS SIPDIS SINGAPORE FOR TSA ASAHAGIAN FAA NATIONAL HQ WASDC FOR TSA INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OTRA EAIR ID SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR TSA ARMEN SAHAGIAN REF: SINGAPORE 756 ¶1. Embassy Jakarta welcomes and grants country clearance for Transportation Security Adminsitraiton (TSA) representative, Mr. Armen A. Sahagian to travel to Bali from 15-16 March, ¶2006. The purpose of the visit is to: (a) continue dialogue between the TSA and Ministry of Communications (office of the DGAC) and Angkasa Pura I in Denpasar on how best to move forward regarding the Existing aviation security concerns identified by the public notice issued by the U.S. government for the international airport in Denpasar; and (b) continue logistical support for government of Indonesia's visit to united states to meet with TSA offices. ¶2. Embassy control officer for this visit will be Mark Carlson, who may be reached as follows: Office: 62-21-3435-9070 Cell: 62-812-100-4938 Fax: 62-21-3435-9977 E-mail: CarlsonMC@state.gov ¶3. Embassy understands that Mr. Sahagian has booked his own room at the Conrad Hilton Hotel in Nusa Dua and, other than country clearance, requries no further Embassy assitance. ¶4. All official travelers to Indonesia are encouraged to travel on a diplomatic or official passport (with at least six months validity remaining) and must be in possession of a valid visa issued at an Indonesian embassy or consulate abroad. Travelers arriving without a valid visa may purchase an airport visa for USD 10.00 for a three-day validity or UDS 25.00 for a thirty-day validity visa. Payment must be made with the exact fee in U.S. dollars and there are no currency exchange facilities at the visa counters. Please note that upon expiration of the 3-day or 30-day visa, travelers must/must depart Indonesia for at least two weeks and the visa cannot be renewed. Post strongly encourages all TDY travelers to obtain visas in advance to avoid problems in case travel plans change unexpectedly. ¶5. All air travelers to Jakarta are subject to a departure tax of 30,000 Rupiah (approximately three USD) for domestic flights and 100,000 Rupiah (approximately 10.00 USD) for international flights. This must be paid in local currency at the check-in desk. It may not be paid in U.S. dollars. ¶6. Threat Assessment: The most recent Department of State travel warning cautions American citizens to defer non-essential travel to Indonesia. The bombings of two restaurants in Bali on October 1, 2005, the Australian Embassy on September 9, 2004, the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Jakarta on August 5, 2003, and two nightclubs in Bali and the attack near the U.S. Consular Agency in Bali, both on October 12, 2002, along with the current security situation within Indonesia, puts U.S. citizens and interests at risk. All American citizens in Indonesia have been warned to evaluate their security posture and exercise maximum caution such as avoiding crowds and demonstrations and locations known to cater primarily to a Western clientele. Bombings and separatist violence in the provinces of Aceh and Papua (Iryan Jaya),Central and West Kalimantan, Maluku, North Maluku, Central and South Sulawesi and West Timor have contributed to unsafe conditions in all those regions. On August 31, 2002, an ambush in Papua resulted in the deaths of two Americans and wounded eight other Americans. Americans should avoid all travel to these areas. ¶7. The Embassy strictly controls the entry of laptop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs),and other electronic devices into Embassy facilities, including annexes. Personally owned or unapproved USG equipment (including all PDAs, cellphones, and pagers) may not enter the controlled access areas. If you plan to bring official electronic equipment to post, please advise the make/model, and serial number or other control number. Providing this information in advance will speed the entry of the equipment into the Embassy and annexes. ¶8. ICASS Policy: Each visitor, regardless of length of stay, must bring/forward fiscal data to pay for direct costs of the visit. Each agency, organization, or visiting delegation will be charged for the actual costs attributed to their visit. For TDYers over thirty (30) days, there is a charge for ICASS support services. If your sponsoring agency is not signed up for ICASS services at post, please be prepared to sign an MOU for ICASS support services upon arrival. The agency should provide post with a written communication, generated by the traveler's headquarters, that confirms the agency will pay ICASS charges for the TDYer, provides the JAKARTA 00003291 002 OF 002 agency ICASS billing code that TDY support charges should be applied to, and authorizes the traveler to sign the ICASS invoice generated by the TDY module. To request use of Mission services upon arrival at post, TDY personnel must complete and sign the form "Application and Approval for Use of U.S. Mission Services," attach their travel orders, and submit it to the Management Counselor for approval. TDY visitors will not have access to Mission services, including the Commissary, until the form is completed. ¶9. Medical ¶A. The Embassy in Jakarta operates a Health Unit that is accessible to personnel who have a current Class 1 or 2 medical clearance issued by State MED. Military personnel whose agencies have signed an ICASS agreement also have access. ¶B. TDYers who are federal employees and who have been on TDY travel outside of CONUS for less than 60 days in a calendar year may use the health unit for up to 60 days without a medical clearance. Those who will be traveling on government orders for more than 60 days per year should have obtained medical clearance before coming to post. Without a clearance, health unit access will be denied. ¶C. All visitors should have adequate medical insurance and especially Medical Evacuation Insurance. Direct-hire State Department employees are already covered for medical evacuation. Medical care in Indonesia is deficient and employees are frequently evacuated to Singapore for care. ¶D. Bring copies of all their medical records and update immunizations prior to arrival, including Typhoid, Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. For travel to some areas outside Jakarta, malaria prophylaxis should be started before arrival. PASCOE