COUNTRY CLEARANCE APPROVAL FOR SEC OFFICIALS TO

UNCLAS RIYADH 006814

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

TREASURY PASS TO SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION FOR
CAROL WALKER AND CLIVETTE JONES.

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN OTRA SA SEC
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE APPROVAL FOR SEC OFFICIALS TO
TRAVEL TO RIYADH SEPTEMBER 9-15, 2006

REF: STATE 138368

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED

NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION - PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY


1. The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia welcomes and grants
provisional country clearance for Mr. Ethiopis Tafara, Dr.
Robert M. Fisher, Mr. Timothy Warren and Mr. Ester Saverson
Jr. for a training seminar for Saudi Arabia's Capital Market
Authority from September 9-15, 2006.


2. Due to recent severe budget cuts, the Mission must direct
charge all visit support costs. Country clearance is
expressly conditional on advance receipt or assurances of
complete fiscal data covering all support expenses for all
visitors and delegation members. Please see Para 6 for
details.


3. Mission Control Officer will be Economic Officer, Lubaina
Qaiyumi. She will meet Mr. Ethiopis Tafara, Dr. Robert M.
Fisher, Mr. Timothy Warren and Mr. Ester Saverson Jr. upon
arrival and transportation will be provided. Contact numbers
are: Embassy MSG Post 1 - (966-1) 488-3800, Ext. 4111;
Embassy Motorpool - (966-1) 488-3800, Ext. 4252; Lubaina
Qaiyumi, Control Officer Home (966-1) 482-2704, Office
(966-1) 488-3800 Ext. 4279, Cell Phone (966-50)355-2145 and
E-Mail Address: QaiyumiLB@state.gov.


4. Lodging has been arranged at Al Faisaliah Hotel, Phone
number (966-1) 273-2222 and FAX number (966-1) 273-3001.
Hotel confirmation numbers are as follows: Mr. Ethiopis
Tafara (201022),Dr. Robert M. Fisher (201018),Mr. Timothy
Warren (201019) and Mr. Ester Saverson Jr. (201021). Credit
card or cash is acceptable at local hotels; cash is best for
other lodging.


5. Sponsoring office shall issue visitors a cell phone and
provide the number to the Embassy switchboard. Travelers are
required to have an active functioning cell phone at all
times.

Standard Advice to Travelers
--------------


6. Visit Typical Expenses

a. VIP: We calculate the average cost per day/per person to
be approximately USD 197.00 for VIP visitors with a special
agenda above the rank of Office Director to any post in Saudi
Arabia. Actual costs will be charged to the fiscal data
provided.

Typical costs include, but are not limited to, American and
Locally Employed Staff's overtime, holiday pay and premium
pay as applicable, field travel by Embassy personnel,
transportation costs, vehicle rental, telephone installation
and service, equipment rental, printing expenses, supplies,
and any other costs that can be directly attributed to the
visit.

b. Operational Support: Typical costs include overtime for
Locally Employed Staff, overtime and mileage for motorpool if
after hours transportation required, cell phone and any other
costs that can be directly attributed to the visit.


7. TDY of 30 Days or Longer

a. Certification that travelers remaining at post for 30
days or longer have completed the appropriate, mandatory
overseas personal security training, prior to arrival at post
(State 66580, March 25, 2004). Waivers to this requirement
may only be granted by the Chief of Mission. Requests should
be sent to Ambassador James Oberwetter or Deputy Chief of
Mission Michael Gfoeller.

b. For TDYers remaining at post over 30 days, there will be
a charge for ICASS support. If your sponsoring agency has
not signed up for ICASS services at post, please be prepared
to sign a MOU for ICASS support services upon arrival. The
agency should provide post with a written authorization,
generated by the traveler's headquarters, that confirms the
agency will pay ICASS charges for the TDYer, provide the
agency ICASS billing code, and authorize the traveler to sign
the ICASS invoice generated by the TDY module. Where travel
is urgent, TDYers should bring this documentation with them
to ensure there will be no interruption in service. Post
will not provide service to a TDYer in excess of 30 days

without this documentation prior to day 31 of the TDY. For
each sponsoring agency that sends a series of TDYers for less
than 30 days, post will add total TDY days and if the total
exceeds 30 days, count them as a single TDY.

c. The Department of State Medical Unit recommends
vaccination against meningitis for all visitors to Saudi
Arabia. All employees, including WAEs and Civil Service
employees who are in TDY status for more than 60 days
(cumulatively) in a calendar year, are required to have
up-to-date medical clearances from the Office of Medical
Services at Class 1 or Class 2 levels in order to receive
full State Department medical benefits (3 FAM 1931.3, c, e).


8. Security: As a result of the continuing terrorist threat
in Saudi Arabia, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates General in
Saudi Arabia became one-year unaccompanied posts effective
August 12, 2004.

All incoming personnel (TDY or PCS) must receive an
RSO-approved security brief prior to or upon arrival. The
Control Officer designated in the country clearance cable is
responsible for ensuring the appropriate brief is obtained.
For TDY personnel with stays of less than 96 hours and where
travel is limited to Riyadh with nearly all visit activity
occurring within the Diplomatic Quarter, an RSO-written brief
provided in paper or electronic form to the visitor by the
Control Officer will satisfy the requirement. For all other
circumstances, the Control Officer must provide the traveler
the paper or electronic brief before or upon the visitor's
arrival, PLUS arrange for an appropriate security briefing
session with the RSO.

Travel is performed only in Embassy vehicles. Use of taxis,
private cars, hotel shuttles, and public transportation for
all travel within the city is not authorized.

Travelers to Saudi Arabia are advised that their hotel rooms
and any telephones used may be monitored during their stay in
the Kingdom. Travelers should report any unusual occurrences
to the Embassy or Consulate General RSO.

On December 6, 2004, there was an armed attack on the U.S.
Consulate in Jeddah, resulting in casualties among the
non-American staff and damage to Consulate facilities. Due
to such targeted attacks against American facilities and
citizens, resulting in deaths, injuries and kidnappings, and
the continuing serious threat to their safety while in Saudi
Arabia, the Department of State continues to warn U.S.
citizens to defer travel to Saudi Arabia.

TDYers are reminded of the potential for further terrorist
actions against U.S. citizens abroad, including in the
Persian Gulf region. USG employees who travel to Saudi
Arabia are required to follow all security precautions as
prescribed by the Regional Security Officer including the use
of armored vehicles. From time to time, the U.S. Embassy and
Consulates in Saudi Arabia may restrict the travel of
official Americans or suspend public services for security
reasons.

Although counter-terrorism efforts have succeeded in
diminishing terrorist capabilities in Saudi Arabia, terrorist
groups continue to target housing compounds, hotels, methods
of transportation, and commercial establishments where
Westerners can be found. Saudi Government facilities are
also targets as demonstrated by the December 29,2004
attempted bombing of the Ministry of Interior. In addition
to car bombs and armed assaults involving multiple gunmen
against such facilities, terrorists have also used ambush
attacks to kidnap and/or assassinate individual Westerners.

These incidents argue strongly that U.S. citizens in Saudi
Arabia should maintain a low profile, keep travel to a
minimum, vary travel routes and times, and treat any mail
from unfamiliar sources with suspicion. American citizens
are also cautioned to remain alert and aware of their
surroundings while moving about the city.


9. The Embassy approves the use of computers, laptops, and
digital cameras at post in accordance with 12 FAM 600
established regulations. Stand-alone use of laptops will be
allowed with the standard caveat that nothing be connected to
DOS systems. Computers, laptops and digital cameras must
stay outside of CAA areas. Prior notification of the use of
cameras must be approved by the RSO. It should be noted that
Saudi law, especially as it is interpreted in the capital of
Riyadh, rigidly controls photography. We strongly urge

visitors to avoid taking photographs in any public place
without the express and prior involvement of the RSO.


10. Visas: Visitors are also reminded that valid visas for
Saudi Arabia are required at all times. Travelers are
advised that submitting passports to the Saudi authorities
that contain Israeli visas or evidence of travel to Israel
may result in difficulties securing a Saudi visa or gaining
entry to the Kingdom. Official travelers to Saudi Arabia
should request a two-year, multiple-entry visa from the
nearest Saudi Embassy or Consulate.


11. Passports: Visitors are reminded to keep a copy of
their passport with them at all times while in Saudi Arabia
as it may be needed for identification. The original should
be kept in a safe place.


12. Prohibited Items: Strict Islamic law is the foundation
of the Kingdom's customs and practices. The norms for public
behavior are extremely conservative. Saudi Arabia outlaws
the importation, sale or use of alcohol in the Kingdom, and
visitors must not attempt to bring any alcohol, pork products
or printed materials that may be construed as pornographic or
proselytizing into the Kingdom. Penalties include
confiscation, fines and may extend to denial of entry.


13. Drugs: Saudi Arabia strictly prohibits the importation
of controlled substances, including narcotics,
methamphetamines, depressants and hallucinogens). The
penalty for violation of this law is death.

Prescription drugs in small quantities, clearly labeled,
should cause no difficulties. Problems arise when they are
in large quantities, unlabeled, or lack documentation (such
as a copy of the prescription),or when they are deemed
illicit by Saudi authorities. Many drugs sold in nearby
countries without a prescription are considered illegal here.
Individuals are arrested for possession of these drugs.


14. Dress: While visiting the Kingdom, women and men should
dress conservatively. Guidance issued by the Saudi Embassy
in Washington states that non-Muslim women are not required
to wear an abayya, but should dress conservatively (loose
fitting skirts/dresses that fall well below the knee with
long sleeves and a high neckline) when in public. This is
also the position of the U.S. Embassy.

However, while Embassy personnel are not required to wear the
abayya and/or hijaab (scarf) on official business, many
Western women choose to wear the abayya and hijaab while
conducting their personal affairs in order to avoid unwanted
attention and/or harassment by the Mutawwa'in (religious
police). Upon request, the Embassy will loan female visitors
abayyas for the duration of their stay in the Kingdom.

It is the policy of the Embassy to support a woman in her
decision to wear or not wear the abayya and/or hijaab.
OBERWETTER