COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR PARIS RSI PARTICIPANTS

UNCLAS PARIS 007580 SIPDIS SIPDIS S/CT FOR MARC NORMAN; R FOR AMB BRIAN CARLSON; EUR FOR NERISSA COOK, NEA FOR DAS GORDON DRAY; SOCOM FOR MG DAVID SCOTT; JOINT STAFF FOR BG MARK SCHISSLER; DOJ FOR AAG BRUCE SWARTZ; NCTC FOR ADD ROLLIE BURANS; OSD FOR MARIO MANCUSO; EUCOM FOR LCDR LATHROP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER FR SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR PARIS RSI PARTICIPANTS ¶1. Embassy Paris warmly welcomes and provides country clearance for visiting USG officials participating in the Western Mediterranean Regional Strategic Initiative Chiefs of Mission Conference to travel to Paris, France from December 4 to December 8, 2006. The RSI conference will bring together an interagency delegation from Washington with the U.S. Ambassadors from Algeria, France, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, and Tunisia. Please note action requests in paragraphs 4 and 6, and visa requirements in paragraph 5. ¶2. Control Officer for the overall conference is Political Officer, John L. Espinoza, who can be reached by unclassified e-mail at EspinozaJohnL@state.gov, by classified e-mail at EspinozaJL@state.sgov.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. Control Officer for administrative issues is S/GSO Charles J. Hamblett, who can be reached by unclassified e-mail at HamblettCJ@state.gov, or by phone at (33-1) 43 12 27 30. 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. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Meurice Hotel for this conference. The Meurice Hotel is located at 228 Rue de Rivoli, 75001, and is within a 10 minute walking distance of the Embassy. The negotiated room rate is 220 Euros per night, single occupancy, or approximately USD 266. The Meurice Hotel telephone numbers are: (33-1) 44 58 10 10 , fax: (33-1) 44 58 10 15. The room rate is within lodging perdiem, though this is subject to fluctuation in the Euro. ¶4. Action request: If you have not already done so, please contact Charles J. Hamblett (hamblettcj@state.gov),and Chanh Nguyen (NguyenCT5@state.gov) no later than COB Thursday, November 30 to guarantee a room under this block. Please include full name(s),single or double occupancy, arrival and 
departure information, smoking or non smoking desirability, credit card type, credit card number, and expiration date. ¶5. 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 is 3:00 PM, with check-out no later than 12:00. Breakfast is available at the hotel for 30-45 Euros or at the Embassy cafeteria for less than 10 Euros, though it does not open before 8:30 AM. Bags can be left at the hotel before check-in. Hotel internet connections are provided gratis. A 5 Euro baggage portage fee is charged in and out. Per diem is currently $285 for lodging and $155 M&IE. Taxi fare from Charles de Gaulle Roissy Airport to the hotel should not exceed approximately 50 Euros. ¶6. Action request: Please contact Ronald Gain, S/CT, who can be reached by unclassified e-mail at GainRL@state.gov or by phone, at 202-647-1843, to obtain fiscal data for your travel expenses. In order to avoid any problem with the fluctuation in the Euro, we suggest travel orders be drafted to fund lodging "at actual cost." We also note that Ambassador Stapleton is hosting a dinner at his residence on December 5 for other Ambassadors in the region and Assistant Secretaries, and a lunch at his residence on December 6 for SIPDIS all conference attendees. M&IE allowances should be reduced by the appropriate amounts to cover these costs: 57 Euros for dinner and 52 Euros for lunch. ¶7. Embassy media policy stipulates that any contact of visitors with the media be coordinated through the Embassy press office at (33-1) 43 12 28 33. ¶8. Embassy wishes to remind visitors that visas are required for holders of U.S. diplomatic or official passports on official business in France. ¶9. 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. ¶10. 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