COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR U.S. CFE TEAM

UNCLAS ATHENS 000630

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: GR NATO
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR U.S. CFE TEAM

REF: STATE 38508


1. Embassy warmly welcomes and grants country clearance for
the visit of Karin Look, Jennifer Laurendeau and LTC Steve
Olejasz, to travel to Athens, Greece, March 28- 30, 2007 to
consult with GOG officials on CFE entitlement exchanges.
Embassy point of contact is Dr. Paul Carter, who can be
reached during office hours at 30-210-720-2391, on cellular
at 30-694-947-5539, and via e-mail at carterpm@state.gov.
The Embassy,s after hours duty receptionist can be reached
at 30-210-729-4444. Lodging is at the Intercontinental
Hotel, 89-93 Syngrou Ave. Ave., tel. (30) 210-920-6000/6006.
Confirmation numbers 2171796/8/9. BB 140 euros.


2. Embassy assistance has been requested per reftel and is
being arranged for meetings, lodging, and transportation.
Per reftel, post is awaiting fiscal data to cover embassy
staff overtime and any additional expenses that may be
incurred. (See para 9.)


3. It is important that all visitors carefully read the
information and instructions provided below. Post wants to
ensure the best possible service to all official visitors and
will work closely to arrange details of each visit.


4. Early morning check-in: For those coming from
Washington, D.C., often on the early morning Delta flight
arriving at 1005, please note there is no guarantee of early
check-in at the hotel. Normal check-in time is

1400. Although post can request early check-in for
travelers, the only way to guarantee a room waiting is to
reserve it for the preceding night.Travelers who wish to book
the previous night must request post to make
this reservation. The traveler is responsible for this
expense.


5. Arrivals: Post has arranged for embassy transportation
upon arrival at the airport. The price of a taxi from Athens
airport to downtown is approximately 28 - 30 euros. Depending
on traffic, the trip to the Embassy takes 40 to 60 minutes.


6. Documents required: Diplomatic and official passport
holders must have Greek diplomatic visas, a valid Schengen
visa or diplomatic ID from any other Schengen country, in
addition to their passport, in order to
enter Greece. The Embassy will be unable to obtain
plane-side visas for USG employees arriving in Greece without
proper documentation. Holders of tourist passports do
not/not require visas. USG employees who plan to operate a
motor vehicle while in Greece must be in possession of a
valid U.S. drivers, license as well as a valid International
Drivers, License and must carry proof of third party
liability insurance while operating the vehicle.


7. Embassy access: Embassy Athens has installed a new
identification badging system, which requires that all
Department of State employees bring their Global ID and/or
Smart Card that will be acknowledged as proper Embassy ID.
DOS employees will be expected to stop by the RSO Office to
program their ID to be compatible with the Athens system.


8. Regional Medical Office: The Health Unit at the Embassy
is fully staffed. A State Department medical clearance is
required by all employees of agencies participating in ICASS
who will be traveling TDY for more then 60 days a year.
Health Unit access is not guaranteed without this clearance.
Family members will not have access to the Health Unit unless
they are on employees, travel orders. We strongly recommend
that TDYers bring with them proof of current medical
insurance coverage and medevac coverage if obtained.


9. Each visitor requiring support from the embassy,
regardless of length of stay, must bring/forward fiscal data
to pay for direct costs of the visit. Each military TDYer
requesting embassy support should be able to provide the
sponsoring military entity at post fiscal data, even if
staying at post less than thirty days. 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 suport),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. The charge per month is
approximately $125. 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. Each 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.


10. Currency: Greece is a member of the European Monetary
Union, and the Euro is the currency of the country.
Accommodation exchange is available on a limited basis
(responsible agency/section signed authorization) at
the Embassy cashier office ) hours are M-F 0930 ) 1030,
1200 - 1300 and 1430 ) 1530. However, ATMs are readily
available throughout the country (there is also one at the
Embassy); they will accept U.S. debit cards. In addition,
most banks and major hotels provide accommodation exchange
services. Post is unable to provide reverse accommodation.


11. Office space/laptops/mobile phones: Office space in
both classified and unclassified areas is extremely limited.
For those employees planning on bringing laptops and modems
to use in their hotels, please remember
that this equipment can be used for processing unclassified
(non-SBU) information only. Current here is 220 volt, 50
cycles, and outlets are two-pronged. Bring along a plug
adapter and equipment that can handle the voltage. Laptops
are not permitted in controlled access areas of the Embassy.
European GSM mobile phones function normally in Greece.




13. Security information:


A. Embassy Athens is designated &high8 for indigenous
terrorism. In the past, local Greek terrorist groups have
targeted prominent Greeks as well as certain non-Greek
Officials, including Americans. We believe that the
threat to official US Government personnel on short-term
assignments to Greece or visiting for tourism is relatively
low. The indigenous groups historically have engaged in
extensive operational surveillance over long periods of time.
In 2003 and again in 2004, the Greek Government made
significant progress to combat domestic terrorism by
successfully convicting the leader and key hit men of the
November 17 terrorist organization and of the ELA. 17N was
responsible for assassinating prominent Greeks and five
members of the US Mission over the course of its 30-year
history. Convicted ELA members were responsible for several
bombings, attempted murders and were involved in at least one
assassination. While these convictions likely impacted on
the operational capabilities of 17N and ELA, it is too soon
to assess whether the threat from domestic terrorism is
completely eliminated. We urge vigilance and caution, as the
worldwide threat from other terrorist groups against
Americans in general remains high. Official Americans should
assume they are potential targets.


B. Over the past year the U.S. Embassy has experienced
numerous bomb threats, protest marches, and anti-U.S.
demonstrations. These protests are generally peaceful though
a few provoked random acts of violence. Travelers to Greece
are advised that protests or demonstrations could occur at
any time; unwitting observers or bystanders might be
identified, to their disadvantage, as Americans. RSO
recommends that official U.S. travelers in Greece remain
alert when moving about in public places and avoid certain
places where demonstrators frequently congregate. These
places include the Polytechnical University area, located on
28 October (Patission) Street between the National
Archeological Museum and Omonia Square; Exarchion Square,
located near Kolonaki; Omonia and Syntagma Squares, which are
often used as launch sites for large demonstrations; and
Mavili Square, located near the U.S. Embassy. Visitors should
keep abreast of news about large demonstrations and avoid
these areas and metro stops.


C. Crime is rated &medium8 in Greece. For TDY visitors,
pick-pocketing and purse snatching are the most common
crimes. Taxis are generally safe though metered cabs are
recommended. Taxis too will often pick up more than one
passenger unless prior arrangements are made. Crimes of
opportunity ) thefts, break-ins, and occasional scams ) are
on the rise. Travelers should be especially cautious with
wallets, purses, and parcels when traveling on crowded
streets, public buses, trolleys, and/or subways. There have
been several instances of motorcyclists approaching cars
stuck in traffic, reaching through open windows or smashing
closed ones, and stealing whatever is within reach. We have
also recently learned of a new scenario in which
motorcyclists open the trunk of a vehicle and remove the
contents. The Embassy recommends keeping purses, parcels,
handbags, etc. out of sight under the seat or on the floor of
the car. Windows should be kept closed and doors locked.
Pedestrians may also be confronted by beggars and other
street people who may attempt to divert attention, then steal
unprotected valuables ) either by pick-pocketing or
snatch-and-grab techniques. Women are generally safe from
violent crime in Greece. Men are aggressive by American
standards however when pursuing women.


D. Traffic in Greek urban areas, especially Athens and
Thessaloniki, is undisciplined. Greece has a poor record
within the European Union for traffic fatalities, mainly due
to excessive speeding. Road rage is always a risk.
Accidents can result in fistfights. Drivers in Greece should
exercise caution and common sense. Drivers and pedestrians
alike should exercise extreme caution when operating motor
vehicles or when walking along roadways. Moreover, tourists
who rent motorbikes either on the Greek mainland or its
islands must wear helmets and must take special precautions
on the local roads that are typically poorly maintained and
frequently pothole-ridden. Greece also has a poor record
within the European Union in motorcycle deaths.
RIES