WELCOME CODEL DAVIS

UNCLAS AMMAN 005023

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OREP AMGT OTRA ASEC AFIN JO
SUBJECT: WELCOME CODEL DAVIS

REF: STATE 169572


1. (SBU) Embassy Amman warmly welcomes the visit of
Representative Lincoln Davis and delegation to
Jordan on January 12, 2008, as requested reftel.
The travelers should carefully review this message,
especially the threat assessment at paragraph 8.


2. (SBU) Control Officer for this visit is Consular
Officer Miriam Schwedt. Contact information is as
follows: 962-6-590-6720(office); 962-6-592-4102
(fax); 202-536-5811 (home); 962-79-503-3513
(mobile); and schwedtm@state.gov. The Embassy's
after-hours telephone number is 962-6-590-6500.


3. (SBU) No hotel reservations have been made for
this delegation as they will not remain in Jordan
overnight.


4. (U) Valid visas are required for entry into
Jordan. Visas may be obtained at Queen Alia airport
though not at all land border crossings; however,
Embassy Amman suggests visitors obtain their visas
prior to arrival, as there can be long queues for
visa issuance at the airport. Money can be
exchanged at Queen Alia airport or in the
delegation?s control room.


5. (U) Action request: Each visitor, regardless of
length of stay, must bring/forward fiscal data to
pay for direct costs of the visit. Each agency,
organization or visiting delegation will be charged
for the actual costs attributed to its visit.
Direct charge costs include, but are not limited to:
American and LES overtime (for such services as
airport expediting, cashier accommodation exchange,
control room staffing, representational event
support),travel and per diem costs incurred by post
personnel in support of visitor?s field travel,
rental of vehicles and other equipment, long
distance telephone calls, office supplies, gasoline
and other vehicle maintenance costs, departure tax
and other airport fees. Post will not provide
service if fiscal data is not provided for the
direct charges. For TDYers remaining at post over
30 days, there is a charge for ICASS support
services. This charge is for the following ICASS
services: Basic Package, CLO and Health Services.
Agencies will not be billed until the accumulated
invoice cost for TDY support exceeds $2,500 for the
fiscal year. If your sponsoring agency is not
signed up for ICASS services at post, please be
prepared to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for
ICASS support services upon arrival. The agency
should provide post with a written communication,
generated by the traveler?s headquarters, that
confirms the agency will pay ICASS charges for the
TDYer, provides the agency ICASS billing code the
TDY support charges should be applied to, and
authorizes the traveler to sign the ICASS invoice
generated by the TDY module. Where travel is
urgent, the TDYer should bring this documentation
with him/her to ensure there are no interruptions in
the provision of service. Post will not provide any
service to a TDYer staying in excess of thirty days
without provision of this documentation before day
31 of the TDY.


6. (U) HEALTH: H5N1 avian flu was confirmed in
poultry in Jordan in March 2006, and in the same
month, the Government of Jordan confirmed a human
case of H5N1 avian flu in a person who was infected
in Egypt and traveled to Jordan while sick. The
World Health Organization declared Jordan to be free
of avian flu in May 2006. There have been no
confirmed cases of avian flu in people or birds in
Jordan since the summer of 2006. Further cases of
avian flu in both people and birds in Jordan remain
possible. For this reason and for normal health
precautions, visitors are encouraged to avoid live
poultry, poultry farms, and any dead birds.
Visitors should use hand sanitizer and wash hands
frequently. Travelers should also patronize
restaurants having high standards for food safety
and hygiene, and ask that poultry and egg products
be cooked thoroughly.

Although Jordan does not pose any unusual health
hazards for visitors, the quality of health care
facilities is not up to the U.S. or European
standards, particularly outside of Amman. As
medications on the local economy are often in short
supply, visitors should bring sufficient medications
to post for their chronic medical problems.
Immunizations should be current for Tetanus and
Diphtheria, Hepatitis A and B. Visitors should
drink bottled water rather than tap water. Food in
the hotels and most restaurants is safe to eat, but
some of the smaller local restaurants do not always
observe proper food handling procedures.

Only those personnel covered under the State
Department's medical program and who have a valid
medical clearance for Jordan are eligible for a
medical evacuation at USG cost. All other visitors
are advised to have their own medical evacuation
insurance to cover evacuation by air ambulance.
Otherwise it will be necessary to ensure that the
respective agency will cover any costs related to a
medical evacuation. All local hospitals take major
credit cards.


7. (U) SECURITY CLEARANCE AND BUILDING ACCESS: In
compliance with State Department regulations and
Embassy policies, visitors requesting unescorted
access to the Embassy compound should inform RSO
Amman of their security clearance level (if any) and
should name the agency that granted that clearance.
Telegrams containing this information should include
the ?ASEC? tag to ensure distribution to the RSO.

Electronic devices: RSO approval must be obtained
before any electronic device is brought into the
Embassy. Privately owned laptops and personal
computers, peripherals, diskettes, and tapes are
prohibited in all mission facilities.
Cellular/mobile phones and palm pilots are
prohibited in controlled access areas.

Travelers with USG-owned unclassified laptops or
notebook computers, peripherals, diskettes, and
tapes must receive RSO/IMO authorization before
being granted access to U.S. Mission buildings.
USG-owned classified computers must be sent to post
via classified diplomatic pouch. Classified
equipment must bear external USG bar-code inventory
numbers and classification markings commensurate
with the highest level of information processed on
the system. Questions concerning other types of
electronic devices and magnetic media may be
directed to the RSO and IMO.

Mandatory personal security training: Per 04 STATE
66580, all employees traveling to post for 30 days
or more (whether PCS or TDY) must have completed the
mandatory personal security training (State
Department Security Overseas Seminar or equivalent)
before arriving at post. Agencies must provide the
Chief of Mission with certification that this
training will be completed prior to the employee?s
travel. Failure to do so will result in denial of
country clearance.


8. (U) THREAT ASSESSMENT: The threat of terrorism
remains high in Jordan. Transnational terrorist
groups, as well as less sophisticated local
elements, have demonstrated the capability to pose
threats in Jordan. The Al-Qaida in Iraq network is
of particular concern for terrorist activities
against U.S. and Government of Jordan (GOJ) targets
in Jordan. The Al-Qaida in Iraq network claimed
responsibility for the November 9, 2005 bombings of
three international hotels in Amman, which killed 60
people and injured over 100. Pedestrian suicide
bombers wearing explosive vests carried the bombs
into the hotels. Al-Qaida in Iraq also claimed
responsibility for the Aqaba rocket attacks on
August 19, 2005 targeting a U.S. naval ship, which
killed one Jordanian soldier and wounded another.
The assassination of American diplomat Larry Foley
outside his west Amman residence on October 28, 2002
was also attributed to Al-Qaida in Iraq leader Abu
Musab Al-Zarqawi, who was killed in Iraq in June

2006.

In addition, there has been a series of confirmed
terrorist threats and disrupted terrorist plots
targeting U.S. or Jordanian interests in Jordan. In
November 2006, the GOJ arrested four men who were
planning to use a taxi cab to identify and
assassinate an American. In the same month, the GOJ
arrested three men who were reportedly plotting to
attack the U.S. Embassy and assassinate President
Bush during his visit to Jordan. In February 2006,
the GOJ disrupted a terrorist cell plotting to
attack Queen Alia International Airport. In
November 2005, the GOJ indicted six men for planning
to carry out attacks against Americans at hotels and
bars in Amman and Aqaba. In August-September 2005,
four militants were arrested for plotting
assassinations of Americans in Jordan. In July
2005, GOJ authorities arrested 17 men who had
planned to assassinate GOJ officials and Americans
in Jordan; the group was reportedly linked to Al-
Qaida in Iraq. In February 2005, four men were
arrested for plotting attacks against GOJ officials,
tourists and five-star hotels. In the same month,
another group was disrupted while plotting to attack
liquor stores in Amman and foreign tourists in
Aqaba.

Terrorists often do not distinguish between U.S.
government personnel and private citizens.
Terrorists may target areas frequented by
Westerners, such as tourist sites, hotels,
restaurants, bars, nightclubs, liquor stores,
shopping malls, transportation hubs, places of
worship, expatriate residential areas, and schools.
In light of these security concerns, U.S. citizens
are urged to maintain a high level of vigilance, to
be aware of their surroundings, and to take
appropriate steps to increase their security
awareness. It is especially important for travelers
to be unpredictable by varying their times and
routes and to maintain a low profile. Moreover,
U.S. citizens are urged to avoid contact with any
suspicious or unfamiliar objects and to immediately
report the presence of such objects to the
authorities. U.S. Government personnel overseas have
been advised to take the same precautions.

Anti-American and anti-Western sentiment exists in
Jordan and has been sparked on occasion by incidents
in the region, particularly those related to
Israeli/Palestinian issues and, to a lesser extent,
Iraq. This may lead to random acts of violence
against Westerners. On September 4, 2006, a gunman
fired on foreigners at a popular tourist site in
central Amman, killing one and injuring six.

Travelers are advised to avoid any demonstrations or
large gatherings of people. Many demonstrations
occur near mosques after Friday prayers.
Consequently, special sensitivity and caution should
be exercised at or near mosques and religious sites
during holy days and the Friday Muslim Sabbath.
Demonstrations also often take place at universities
and refugee camps.

Crime is generally not a serious problem for
travelers in Jordan, but petty crime is prevalent in
the downtown Amman Hashimiyah Square area and near
the Roman Amphitheater. In the narrow streets of
the older parts of the city center, crowded
conditions invite pickpockets and other petty
criminals. Travelers are urged to be more guarded
in these areas so that they do not present easy
opportunities for criminals.

In central and west Amman, there have been reports
of thieves snatching pedestrians? purses from moving
vehicles and then driving off. In some instances,
victims were injured when they were unable to free
themselves from their purses. When carrying a
purse, it would be wise to conceal it if possible,
to avoid walking near the road within reach of
passing vehicles, and to walk against the flow of
traffic.

Jordanian police have warned the public to exercise
vigilance when leaving banks or ATM machines, as
thieves have reportedly preyed upon persons soon
after using these services.
Western women both visiting and residing in Jordan
report sexual harassment, stalking, and unwelcome
advances of a sexual nature; there have been
isolated reports of assault. Women are advised to
take reasonable precautions including dressing
conservatively and not traveling alone. Modest
attire should be worn in deference to local custom.


9. (U) TRAVEL GUIDELINES: American citizens and
official visitors traveling in Jordan should
exercise caution, be alert, and stay informed of
regional and local events that could quickly impact
the security environment in the country. It is also
recommended to maintain a low profile and not
establish predictable patterns of movement, even if
only visiting for a short period. Yellow taxis are
widely used throughout the country and for the most
part without adverse incidents occurring. Still,
there have been confirmed reports of single females
being assaulted or verbally harassed by taxi
drivers. The Embassy Internet website has a list of
radio controlled taxi companies that the Government
of Jordan has advised us vet their drivers at
http://amman.usembassy.gov/int_dev/Pa_amman/d ocs/tax
i_list.pdf.

For further information, see the State Department's
Consular Information Sheet for Jordan at
http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/ cis/cis
_1149.html and link from that site to the most
recent Public Announcements on Travel in the Middle
East and South Asia and the most recent Worldwide
Caution.

Visit Amman?s Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.gov.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/

MINIMIZE CONSIDERED.
HALE