COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR ACTING DAS REDDICK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 001268

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E (E REDDICK AND W SCHOFIELD)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA NL
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR ACTING DAS REDDICK
AND DESK OFFICER SCHOFIELD

REF: STATE 91895


1. Post warmly welcomes and grants country clearance to
Acting DAS Eunice Reddick and Desk Officer Bill Schofield
(AF/E) for travel to The Netherlands June 14-16, for
Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission meetings.


2. Control Officer will be Political Officer Ted Burkhalter.
He can be reached at: Tel: (W) 31-70-310-2336, (H)
31-70-324-1559, (M) 31-65-181-6873. Fax: (W) 31-70-310-2348.
Unclass Email: burkhaltereb@state.gov. Please note: When
dialing telephone/fax numbers within the Netherlands, replace
country code 31 with a zero.


3. Post will make hotel reservations per reftel request.
Post understands no further assistance is requested.

POST ACCESS:


4. Visitors who need unescorted access into secure areas of
the Mission must provide proof of a clearance. If level of
clearance was not provided in the original country clearance
request it should be done by separate cable. The cable
should include SSN, and the name of the agency granting the
security clearance. Cables must include the ASEC Tag to
ensure distribution to the RSO office.

COMPUTER and ELECTRONICS USAGE:


5. 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.


6. Travelers who anticipate having special needs in terms of
either access or computer usage should contact the RSO office
before arriving at post.


SECURITY ADVISORY:


7. Post provides the following threat assessment for The
Netherlands: On July 9, 2004, the Dutch government
implemented heightened security measures in response to
concerns of terrorist activity. U.S. citizens in the
Netherlands are encouraged to monitor media reports, and are
reminded to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take
appropriate steps to increase their securtiy awareness.

The U.S. Government remains deeply concerned about the
heightened possibility of terrorist attacks against U.S.
citizens and interests abroad. As noted in the Department of
State's Worldwide Caution of April 29, 2004, terrorists do
not distinguish between official and civilian targets. Such
targets may include facilities where U.S. citizens and other
foreigners congregate or visit, including residential areas,
clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, hotels and
public areas. U.S. citizens should remain in a heightened
state of personal security awareness when attendance at such
locations is unavoidable.

Terrorist actions may include, but are not limited to,
suicide operations, hijackings, bombings or kidnappings.
These may also involve commercial aircraft and maritime
interests, and threats to include conventional weapons, such
as explosive devices.

A concern for visitors is crime. Most crimes against
official Americans are limited to pick-pocketing and luggage
theft. Theft from automobiles and hotel rooms are not
unknown. Recently, theft of laptop computers has increased,
especially at Schiphol Airport and major train stations. The
thieves operate in small groups that target travelers. They
are determined and well practiced at distraction theft.
Several official travelers have been victimized losing
personal or unclassified government computers, valuable
software and data. Travelers are reminded regulations
require the use of the diplomatic pouch for shipment of
classified equipment and information.

Streets can be walked in relative safety, but as in any U.S.
urban area, caution should be exercised after dark in the
more populated cities of The Hague, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam.
Red-light districts and public transportation hubs are
common locations for incidents of street crime.

For the latest security information, Americans living and
traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's
Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at

THE HAGUE 00001268 002 OF 002


http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide
Cautions, Public Announcements, and Travel Warnings can be
found. Up-to-date information on security can also be
obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S.,
line at 1-317-472-2328. These numbers are available from
8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday
(except U.S. federal holidays).
ARNALL