KUWAIT GRANTS COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR CODEL SMITH (SEP 21-24)

UNCLAS KUWAIT 003725 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OREP AMGT ASEC AFIN KU GM IZ SUBJECT: KUWAIT GRANTS COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR CODEL SMITH (SEP 21-24) REF: STATE 148972 ¶1. Embassy Kuwait welcomes and hereby grants country clearance for CODEL Smith to travel to post o/a 22 to 24 September, 2006. ¶2. This clearance is not/not valid for entry into Iraq; you must apply for Iraq clearance through Embassy Baghdad. ¶3. Hotel reservations have been made for 22-23 September, at the Radisson SAS Hotel at the rate of 66.000 KD plus 15% (approximately USD 260) per night for single rooms, which includes a buffet breakfast. The per diem rate for Kuwait is USD 260 plus M&IE of USD 96 for a total of USD 356 plus enhanced per diem as authorized. The hotel phone number is (965)575-6000; fax number (965)575-0155. An Embassy visit officer and a driver/expeditor will meet and assist you at the airport. Embassy point of contact is: Carri Mowry, Coordinator ISU Office- (965) 259-1419 Cell- (965) 973-9854 Fax- (965) 259-1190 Unclass e-mail: MowryCA@state.gov SIPDIS ¶4. Following is post's standard guidance for visitors to Kuwait: Kuwait now issues single-entry visas to American citizens on arrival, upon presentation of a passport. Post strongly advises travelers to carry some documentation on the purpose of their visit. Passengers arriving on other than commercial flights should anticipate extra delays, because immigration services are not available on the military side of the airfield and passports have to be carried to a different site at the airport for processing. Airport visas are valid for 90 days after arrival; anyone staying beyond this period must obtain an extension, which should be requested 2 weeks prior to expiration. Anyone departing Kuwait who has overstayed the visa will be charged a fine of KD 10 (US$33.50) per day at the airport. All travelers planning to visit Iraq should make sure that they obtain exit/entry stamps for each transit through Kuwait, and be aware that they will need to obtain a new Kuwaiti visa upon return, even after a daytrip to Baghdad. Failure to do so can result in heavy fines. If possible, travelers should try to obtain a multiple-entry visa before arriving in Kuwait. ¶5. Visitors are reminded that the importation of alcohol, pork products, personal firearms, and any suggestive/pornographic materials (videotapes, magazines or books) is strictly prohibited by Kuwaiti law. Kuwait is still clearing mines and munitions. Visitors must remain on major paved roads when traveling in Kuwait. Travel North of Jahra toward the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border is not authorized without approval from the embassy and an appropriate escort. ¶6. Holy Month of Ramadan: Your visit takes place during the Holy Month of Ramadan, which will be observed o/a September 23 through October 21/22, 2006. It is against the law in Kuwait for anyone to eat, drink or smoke in public, including inside vehicles, between the hours of sunrise and sunset. Business slows down for this month and government offices, as well as many private businesses, work shorter hours. Muslims must work a full day without so much as a sip of water. The result is that people may become tired, tense, and easily irritated during the normal workday, especially during the later weeks of Ramadan. One must be extra alert when driving, particularly during the late afternoon when many will be rushing home to break the fast. ¶7. Threat Assessment: Kuwait is a high-threat post and the military threatcon is currently Charlie. We have increased security precautions at official U.S. installations in Kuwait and recommend that all Americans in Kuwait remain alert to their surroundings and review their personal security practices. ¶8. Fiscal Data: Thank you for providing fiscal data. Each agency, organization, delegation or visiting individual will be charged for all costs attributed to their visit. These costs include, but not limited to: LES and American staff overtime, vehicle and equipment rental, office and medical supplies, telephone calls, expeditor services, airport transportation other mileage driven, and representational events. If fiscal data on visitor's travel authorization is to be used for this purpose, it must be clearly spelled out and sufficient funding must be provided. ¶9. Health Unit: All TDY or PCS personnel that would like to be vaccinated against smallpox should get the vaccine in M/MED in Washington before coming to post. The smallpox vaccine for pre-exposure vaccination is not available at post. There are prepositioned doses of smallpox vaccine at post to be used only if an actual exposure occurs. The smallpox vaccine is being offered to personnel that are coming to work at Embassy Kuwait as a strictly voluntary protection in case of a possible biological attack. ¶10. Health Advisory for Kuwait: April through October is the hot season in Kuwait. Temperatures reach 120?-140?F in summer. Caution should be taken to prevent dehydration and heat exhaustion by 1) drinking plenty of fluids and 2) staying indoors, especially during peak temperature hours of 12:00-15:00. Low humidity coupled with high temperatures creates excessive moisture loss from evaporation. It is necessary to drink 2-4 quarts of water daily to prevent dehydration. ¶11. Health Advisory for Iraq: Remember to bring adequate medications and to be current on vaccines as getting medical supplies in Iraq has been difficult. Consistent with US military policy since January 2005, and having no cases of malaria reported to date in US Embassy personnel, malaria prophylaxis is not routinely recommended for Iraq. Vivax malaria historically exists in the northern provinces of Duhok, Erbil, Ninawa, Sulaimaniya, Tmim (May-October),and in the south around Basrah (April-November). There is no risk in Baghdad. Individuals that travel to those areas need to continue to check current embassy recommendations. Malaria must be a consideration in anyone with a fever who has traveled to those areas. To protect against insect bites, use insect repellants, long clothing and other measures to prevent insect bites. ¶12. CAA Access: Visitors who need unescorted access into secure areas of the mission must slug cables to the attention of the RSO, and include the level of their clearance. The cable should include the social security number of the requestor and the name of the agency granting the clearance. Cables should include the ASEC tag to ensure distribution to the RSO office and the Marine Security guard at post one. ¶13. Computer and Electronics usage: Inter-agency security standards prohibit the introduction or use of non-USG owned computer hardware and software at all USG diplomatic facilities. Cell phones, palm pilots, radios and other convenience electronics are prohibited in all secure areas of the mission. ¶14. Sensitive military information has been located recently on business center computers at local hotels in Kuwait City. All US Government personnel and contractors must remember that it is their responsibility to observe good computer and information security practices. Information processed on computers and hotel business centers, through e-mail correspondence or document creation, is highly exploitable. Public computers located in hotel business centers, internet cafes, airport lounges, etc. should never be used to process, store or disseminate sensitive information. Compromise of sensitive government or military information can result in serious damage to national security. Compromises of sensitive personal data can result in significant personal and financial hardship. Random checks are conducted by Embassy personnel on public PC's. Breaches in COMPUSEC will result in the violator receiving security infractions and/or security violations. ¶15. Embassy Kuwait's normal workweek is Saturday through Wednesday. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. switchboard numbers are (965) 259-1001, IVG: 495-0000. The after hours number which rings at Marine Guard post one is (965) 538-2098. ¶16. The time difference with the East Coast of the United States is EDT plus 7 hours. LeBaron