COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR EUR DAS MATT BRYZA AND

UNCLAS PARIS 006063

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA FR KGIC
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR EUR DAS MATT BRYZA AND
ELIZABETH ROOD TO PARIS

REF: STATE 147965


1. Embassy Paris warmly welcomes and provides country
clearance for EUR DAS Matt Bryza, and EUR/CARC Director
Elizabeth Rood to travel to Paris, France from September
11-13, 2006, to attend OSCE Minsk Group meetings. Post is
aware that the exact dates and overnight stays are still to
be confirmed.


2. Control Officer for the visit is Political Officer John
Espinoza, who can be reached by e-mail at
espinozajl@state.gov, by phone at (33-1) 43 12 25 75, via
cell phone at (33-6) 20 43 86 88, or by FAX at (33-1) 43 12
26 63. He can also be reached at home via the Embassy
switchboard at (33-1) 43 12 22 22. Note: If dialing from
outside France, the country and area codes are 33-1 for fixed
phones in the Paris region and 33-6 for cell phones
nationwide. If dialing from inside France, the respective
numbers are 01 and 06.


3. One single room for Ms. Rood has been reserved for the
night of September 11, 2006 at the Hotel Regina, located at
2, Place des Pyramides, 75001, Paris, tel: (33-1) 42 60 31
10, fax: (33-1) 40 15 95 16. The room rate is within lodging
per diem, at 206 Euros per night, taxes included (breakfast
is included). Should you have any questions, please contact
Emmanuel Dumont at the American Embassy Travel Unit in Paris
(33-1) 43 12 20 53 or (33-1) 43 12 20 40. We would like to
point out that a 48 hour notice is due in case of
cancellation or modification in travel plans in order to
avoid no-show charges. Please be aware that check-in time
for hotels in France is officially 3:00 p.m. If you require
a room to be ready earlier you will have to pay lodging for
the night before arrival and your travel orders should
reflect this requirement. Concerning luggage, as a
convenience, hotels may allow travelers to leave their
personal luggage at their hotel prior to 3:00 p.m. on the day
of check-in. If travelers cannot pay an additional day for
an early check-in, it is up to the traveler to negotiate with
the hotel to leave baggage prior to check-in.


4. In the event of a crisis or serious international
incident involving the United States, you must immediately
contact your control officer.


5. Embassy media policy stipulates that any contact with
visitors with the media be coordinated through the Embassy
press office at (33-1) 43 12 28 33.


6. Embassy wishes to remind visitors that visas are required
for holders of U.S. diplomatic or official passports on
official business in France.


7. Action request: Each visitor must bring a copy of
his/her travel orders (or forward fiscal data) to cover costs
of visit. Each agency, organization, or visiting delegation
will be charged for the actual costs attributed to their
visit. These costs include, but are not limited to, American
and LES overtime, field travel by Embassy employees, vehicle
rentals, long distance telephone calls, equipment rentals,
representational events and all other costs that are directly
attributable to the visits. Airport pickup is provided only
for employees at the rank of Assistant Secretary or above.
Other visitors should take a taxi or Air France bus.


8. Following is current security information for France:

(A) Terrorism: The current terrorism threat in France
mirrors the general worldwide threat. Trans-national terror
groups such as al-Qaida likely have a presence in France and
do present a general threat. French law enforcement and
intelligence services are effective in responding to this
threat and remain in a heightened state of alert, but cannot
completely negate it. For this reason American citizens
should practice good personal security when visiting France.
Remaining unpredictable is perhaps the simplest but most
effective way of ensuring personal safety. This is
particularly true when departing or arriving at your place of
residence. Being aware of your surroundings and suspicious
persons or activities is also critically important. Do not
accept packages, do not open hotel doors to strangers and
immediately report any suspicious activities to the police
(telephone 17) and Regional Security Office telephone (33-1)
43 12 27 96.

(B) Crime: Street crime in French cities is similar to that
in most large metropolitan areas. The two most frequent
crimes are pick pocketing and snatch/run theft. These
criminals most often ply their trade on public transportation

routes used by tourists and at tourist sites. In Paris,
visitors should be particularly alert when using Metro lines
numbers one and two, in addition to the RER trains serving
the airports. Tourist sites such as the Eiffel Tower,
Montmartre, the major museums and the Avenue des Champs
Elysees are all areas of heavy activity. Visitor should use
hotel safes whenever possible to store valuables and excess
cash. Awareness should go up when conditions are crowded.
Maintain control of cameras and bags, do not carry these
items behind you. Criminals on metros often push into you
for distraction and pickpocket while doing so. Another
technique is to grab valuables and escape just as the metro
doors are closing. If credit cards are stolen, proceed to
the nearest telephone and immediately notify the card issuer.
Stolen credit cards are used immediately. Whenever
possible, take a seat or keep your back to a wall when on the
metro system. It is also recommended that a photocopy of
your passport identification page be carried in lieu of the
passport itself. Report any incidents to the Regional
Security Office as soon as possible.

(C) Electronic devices: Privately-owned laptops and personal
computers are prohibited in controlled access areas (CAAs) of
the Mission and consulates. Travelers with USG unclassified
and classified laptop or notebook computers should review '95
State 244394 (classified machines) and '95 State 243825
(unclassified machines) and notify the Information Management
Office (IMO) before bringing these machines into CAA.
Cellular telephones are also prohibited in the CAA and must
be left outside this area. Questions concerning other types
of electronic devices may be directed to the Information
Management Office or Regional Security Office.

(D) For additional threat assessment information regarding
France and/or Europe, you may contact DS/ITA in the State
Department at (202) 663-0787.


9. Health Concerns: For up-to-date information on health
precautions for France, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) website contains a detailed analysis of
risks involved at: http:cdc.gov/travel/disease.htm.

Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm

STAPLETON