KUWAIT COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR MARK STAMILIO

UNCLAS KUWAIT 004078 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OTRA AMGT APER PREL PTER KU IZ SUBJECT: KUWAIT COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR MARK STAMILIO AND ANDREW MORRISON REF: STATE 170985 ¶1. Embassy Kuwait welcomes and hereby grants country clearance to Mark Stamilio and Andrew Morrison, U.S. Department of State, Office of War Crimes Issues, to travel to post for meetings and consultations regarding the Iraqi High Tribunal's investigation of regime crimes against Kuwaiti nationals, and regarding Guantanamo detainees. ¶2. (SBU) Embassy point of contact is: DeWitt Conklin, Poltical Officer Office - 965-259-1533 Cell - 965-936-4497 Fax - 965-259-1051 Unclass E-Mail: conklindc@state.gov SIPDIS Travel information is as follows: Washington-Kuwait: Fri 10/13, depart Washington Dulles 21:53 via UA 932 Sat 10/14, arrive Frankfurt 11:45 Sat 10/14, depart Frankfurt 13:05 via LH 624 Sat 10/14, arrive Kuwait 19:15 Kuwait-Baghdad: Sun 10/15, depart Kuwait/arrive Baghdad via MilAir Baghdad-Kuwait: Fri 10/20, depart Baghdad/arrive Kuwait via MilAir Kuwait-Washington: Sun 10/22, depart Kuwait 01:25 via UA 8751 Sun 10/22, arrive Frankfurt 06:20 Sun 10/22, depart Frankfurt 11:00 via UA 953 Sun 10/22, arrive Washington Dulles 14:04 Embassy Kuwait will provide the following assistance per reftel: -- Ground transportation from MilAir ramp and/or Hilton on 10/20, and to Kuwait International Airport on Sun 10/22 -- Expediter service at Kuwait International Airport on Sun 10/22 -- Hotel reservations at the Movenpick for the nights of Fri 10/20 and Sat 10/21 -- Assistance in arranging Sat 10/21 meetings with relevant GOK officials (as per previous email communication) ¶3. 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. There is a processing fee of 2 KD for each visa issued. The fee may be paid either in KD or USD (approximately 7 USD). 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 only 90 days after arrival; anyone staying beyond this period must obtain an extension, which should be requested 10 days prior to expiration. Anyone departing Kuwait who has overstayed the visa will be charged a fine at the airport 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. ¶4. 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. ¶5. Holy Month of Ramadan: Your visit takes place during the Holy Month of Ramadan, which will be observed September 23 through October 23, 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 private businesses, work shorter hours. Muslims must work a ful day without so much as a sip of water. The result is that people may become tired, tense and easliy 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. ¶6. 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. ¶7. Fiscal Data (action request): Each visitor to Embassy Kuwait must bring or forward fiscal data to cover costs incurred during the visit. Each agency, organization, delegation or visiting individual will be charged for all costs attributed to their visit. These costs include, but are not limited to: LES and American staff overtime, vehicle and equipment rental, office and medical supplies, telephone calls, expeditor services, airport transportation and 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. ¶8. 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. ¶9. Health Advisory for Kuwait: April through October is the hot season in Kuwait. Temperatures reach 120-140F 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. ¶10. 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 Social Security Number, 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. ¶11. Computer and Electronics usage: Sensitive military information has been located recently on business center computers at local hotels in Kuwait City. All U.S. Government personnel and contractors must remember that it is their responsibility to observe good computer and information security practices. Information processed on computers in hotel business centers, through email correspondence or document creation, is highly exploitable. Public computers located in hotel business centers, internet cafes, airport lunges, 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. 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. ¶12. Embassy Kuwait's normal workweek is Saturday through Wednesday. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. switchboard number is (965) 259-1001, IVG: 4950000. The after hours number which rings at Marine Guard post one is (965) 538-2098. ¶13. The time difference with the East Coast of the United States is EDT plus 7 hours (in summer) or EST plus 8 hours (in winter). ******************************************** For more Embassy Kuwait reporting, see: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/index. cfm Or Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ******************************************** Tueller