COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR EAP A/S CHRISTOPHER R. HILL

UNCLAS TOKYO 006006 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OTRA PREL JA SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR EAP A/S CHRISTOPHER R. HILL AND SPECIAL ASSISTANT THOMAS B. GIBBONS REF: STATE 172755 ¶1. (U) Embassy welcomes and grants country clearance for the October 16-19, 2006 visit to Japan by A/S Christopher R. Hill and Special Assistant Thomas B. Gibbons. ¶2. (U) Control Officer for the visit will be Brett Blackshaw. He can be reached at: Office phone: (81-3)3224-5337 Home phone: (81-3)3224-6811 Mobile phone: 81-90-4837-5822 Fax: (81-3)3224-5322 E-mail: BlackshawB@state.gov (unclassified) -------------- Hotel Reservations -------------- ¶3. (U) Tokyo hotel reservations have been made for the night of 16 October at: Hotel Okura 2-10-4 Toranomon Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8416 Tel: (81-3) 3582-0111 Fax: (81-3) 3582-3707 Email: www.okura.com -------------- Airport to Hotel Transportation -------------- ¶4. (U) Control Officer will meet A/S Hill and party at the arrival gate and assist to an embassy vehicle. Same arrangements upon departure. -------------- Visa -------------- ¶5. (U) Holders of U.S. diplomatic or official passports must have a Japanese visa to enter Japan. Travelers on a U.S. tourist (blue cover) passport may enter Japan as a tourist without a Japanese visa for up to 90 days. -------------- Embassy Laptop Policy -------------- ¶6. (U) The Embassy's laptop policy is as follows: Absolutely no personal, non-government owned laptop computers may enter the Embassy. Absolutely no laptop, even government owned, may be connected to the Embassy network in any way. TDY employees are reminded that no government owned laptops may enter the Embassy without prior RSO approval. Absolutely no laptop, even government owned, inside CAA areas unless special pre-approval, based on business need, has been given. If you would like to bring a US government owned and provided laptop computer into the Embassy, please contact the RSO's office prior to your visit for the briefing and approval. -------------- Threat Assessment -------------- ¶7. (U) U.S. Government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of alert. The events of September 11 at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Somerset, Pennsylvania, serve as a cruel reminder of the continuing threat from terrorists and extremist groups to Americans and American interests worldwide. This situation remains fluid and American citizens should be aware of the potential risks and take these into consideration when making travel plans. The Department will continue to develop information about potential threats to Americans overseas and to share credible threat information through its consular information program documents available on the internet at the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page: http://www.travel.state.gov. ¶8. (SBU) The general threat from crime in Tokyo and throughout Japan is low. Crime is at levels well below the U.S. national average. Violent crime is rare, but does exist. The Japanese National Police report continued problems with pick-pocketing of foreigners in crowded shopping areas of Tokyo. Although street crime is low, common sense security measures are advised for all American citizens traveling in Japan. ¶9. (U) As the U.S. Government has reported in public announcements over the last several months, U.S. citizens and interests abroad may be at increased risk of terrorist actions from extremist groups, which may target civilians and include suicide operations. Most recently, we advised that we had unconfirmed information that terrorist actions may be taken against U.S. Military facilities and/or establishments frequented by U.S. military personnel in Korea and Japan. Americans should increase their security awareness and avoid locations where Americans are generally known to congregate. ¶10. (U) In addition, we continue to be concerned about information we received in May 2001 that American citizens may be the target of a terrorist threat from extremist groups with links to Usama Bin Laden's Al-Qaida organization. In the past, such individuals have not distinguished between official and civilian targets. The Embassy takes all threats seriously. The U.S. Embassy Tokyo can be contacted 24 hours a day at 03-3224-5000 (locally) or 81-3-3224-5000 (internationally). ¶11. (SBU) Visitors are urged to maintain a high level of vigilance and to increase their security awareness. Americans should maintain a low profile, vary routes and times for all required travel, and treat mail and packages from unfamiliar sources with suspicion. Visitors are also urged to avoid contact with any suspicious, unfamiliar objects, and to report the presence of such objects to local authorities. Vehicles should not be left unattended and should be kept locked at all times. SCHIEFFER