BULGARIA COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR MEGAN HALL, OCT.

UNCLAS SOFIA 001427

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

G/TIP FOR MEGAN HALL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA PHUM PREL BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR MEGAN HALL, OCT.
18-21

REF: STATE 648381



1. Embassy Sofia warmly welcomes and grants country
clearance for G/TIP Reports Officer for Europe Megan Hall to
visit Sofia, Bulgaria, from 18 through 21 October, 2006.
Purpose of the visit is to assess recent government efforts
to combat human trafficking through discussions with Embassy
officers, government officials, and NGO representatives.


2. All U.S. visitors require a valid passport to enter
Bulgaria. Official and diplomatic passports require visas
regardless of length of stay.


3. Control Officer for this visit is Political and Economic
Affairs Officer Anna Radivilova. Contact information for Ms.
Radivilova follows: (Office) 359-2-937-5276, (Fax)
359-2-937-5320, (Cell) 359-887-931-418 and (E-mail)
RadivilovaA@state.gov.


4. Per Diem for Sofia is USD 151.00 (lodging) and USD 82.00
(M&IE). As requested in reftel, reservation has been made
for Ms. Hall at the Grand Hotel Sofia for three consecutive
nights with check-in on 18 October and checkout on 21
October. The rate of $150 / night is for the SD Sofia Deluxe
Room and is inclusive of taxes, breakfast, use of fitness
facilities and indoor parking. Hotel reservation
confirmation number is 48114. The Grand Hotel Sofia will
accept payment via US Dollars, Euros, Visa, American Express,
Diner's Club, JCB and Master Card. The Grand Hotel Sofia is
located at 1 Gurko Street in Sofia and can be reached via
(Tel): 359-2-811-0810, (Fax): 359-2-811-0900 and (E-mail)
reservations@grandhotelsofia.bg


5. The Control Officer and driver will meet passenger at the
Sofia airport upon arrival on Wednesday, 18 October at 15:25.


6. A draft schedule for meetings and briefings will be sent
separately.


7. The address of the American Embassy in Sofia is 16 Kozyak
Street, 1407 Sofia (in the Lozenetz district). The
switchboard telephone number is: 359-2-937-5100, the general
fax is: 359-2-937-5320 and, for emergencies, the telephone
number for the Marine Security Guard on duty is:
359-2-937-5200.


8. If travelers wish to access their State Department e-mail
accounts or work on an embassy computer while in Sofia, they
need to know their home office exchange server data and
domain name in order to establish a temporary account. With
this information, Sofia IPC can initiate an account within a
few hours after receiving signed request forms once travelers
are in Sofia. Please note: While in Sofia, visitors will
not be able to log on, or have access to State Department
systems and/or intranet without establishing their own
temporary Sofia account.


9. Customs declaration requirement: Bulgarian law requires
that travelers entering Bulgaria with more than 8,000
Bulgarian Leva (approximately USD $5,300.00),or the
equivalent in foreign currency, travelers checks, gems, gold
or silver, must declare the money, checks and/or valuables to
customs officials upon arrival. Those entering Bulgaria at
Sofia airport with declarable items should use the red
("something to declare") line and not the green ("nothing to
declare") line, even if specifically invited into the green
line by a customs official. Travelers who do not declare
this currency or valuables in excess of 8,000.00 Bulgarian
Leva may have their money and property confiscated.


10. Sofia currently has a high criminal threat designation.
Commercial air travelers should be aware that pilferage of
luggage is common at Sofia airport; no valuable items should
be included in checked baggage. Embassy recommends using
only OK Taxi Company (973-2121),if possible. Other taxis
may charge exorbitant rates, both legal and illegal.
Pickpockets are especially prevalent in public places and
auto theft is increasing.


11. Bulgaria is largely a cash economy. Most shops and
restaurants still do not accept traveler's checks or credit
cards. For expenses, post strongly recommends obtaining
dollars in clean new bills; old, torn and defaced bills are
often not accepted for exchange. Personal checks can be
cashed at the embassy cashier. The embassy has an automatic
teller machine on site that works with most American teller
cards. Money exchange offers by individuals outside exchange
offices or banks should be avoided. Due to pervasive fraud,
the use of credit cards is not/not recommended in Bulgaria
outside of the top international hotels.




12. Telephone rates for all international calls are
expensive. A ten-minute call to the United States is
approximately USD 40.00 not inclusive of additional hotel
surcharge. Travelers may prefer U.S. (or locally purchased)
telephone calling cards that offer reduced prices (i.e., MCI
cards offer .99 - 1.10 USD/min).


13. Medical emergencies can be handled at one or two
facilities that are equipped with modern equipment, and an
embassy Foreign Service Nurse Practitioner (FSNP) can provide
a range of routine services for travelers on government TDY
orders. An adequate supply of routinely taken medication
should be brought to post since many specialty items are not
available.


14. Electronic devices: privately owned laptops and
personal computers, peripherals, diskettes and tapes are
prohibited in the Controlled Access Area (CAA) of the
mission. Travelers with USG unclassified and classified
laptop or notebook computers, peripherals and diskettes or
tapes should review 95 State 244394 (classified machines) and
95 State 243825 (unclassified machines) and notify the
regional security office (RSO) before bringing these machines
to post. RSO approval must be obtained before any electronic
device may be brought into the CAA. Cellular phones are also
prohibited in the CAA and must be left outside. Questions
concerning other types of electronic devices and magnetic
media may be directed to the RSO.
BEYRLE
BEYRLE