COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR PDAS VOLKER

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 001965 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OTRA NL SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR PDAS VOLKER REF: STATE 146478 ¶1. (SBU) Country Clearance is granted and post warmly welcomes EUR PDAS Kurt Volker to travel to The Netherlands September 12-13. ¶2. (SBU) 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. (SBU) PDAS will RON at the residence of Ambassador Arnall. Phone: 31-70-310-2311. COMPUTER and ELECTRONICS USAGE: ¶4. (U) 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. ¶5. (U) Please inform control officer, in advance, if PDAS will have special computer usage needs. SECURITY ADVISORY: ¶6. (U) 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 facilitie where U.S. citizens and other foreigners congreate 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 arenot unknown. Recently, theft of laptop computer has increased, especially at Schiphol Airport and major train stations. The thieves operate in sall groups that target travelers. They are detemined and well practiced at distraction theft. Sveral official travelers have been victimized losig personal or unclassified government computers, valuable software and data. Travelers are remindd regulations require the use of the diplomatic ouch for shipment of classified equipment and inormation. Streets can be walked in relative safty, but as in any U.S. urban area, caution should be exercised after dark in the more populated ciies of The Hague, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam. Redlight 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 monito the Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs Intrnet web site at http://travel.state.gov, where he current Worldwide Cautions, Public Announcemets, 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