EMBASSY BAKU TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO PUBLIC

S E C R E T BAKU 001295

SIPDIS


NOFORN

DEPT FOR EUR DAS BRYZA, EUR/CARC, OPS CENTER, S/CT,
ALSO FOR DS/IP/EUR, DS/ICI/PII, DS/DSS/ITA, DS COMMAND
CENTER
FRANKFURT FOR MCESC REGION 1

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2017
TAGS: AEMR AJ AMGT ASEC CASC PTER
SUBJECT: EMBASSY BAKU TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO PUBLIC
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 29, 2007 0900

REF: A. BAKU 1294 (NOTAL)

B. 03 STATE 344921


Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse, per 1.4 (b, d).


1. (S) Per Reftel B, Embassy Baku informs the department
that effective 0900 on October 29, 2007, the Mission will be
temporarily closed to the public. The temporary closure to
the public and minimal operations is in response to a
terrorist threat (reftel A). The Embassy consulted with the
Ops Center, CA/OCS, EUR/CARC and DS by telephone and e-mail
on October 28 regarding this decision.


2. (S) The Embassy will not be open for routine consular
services (including both visa services and non-emergency
Amcit services). The Embassy will remain open and staffed by
essential staff who are directly working on the security of
American interests and countering this terrorist threat. The
Embassy unclassified annex, housed in a separate facility
with fewer security features, will not be staffed, other than
by Embassy local guards.


3. (U) The Embassy, in consultation with the CA/OCS duty
officer, released the following warden message on October 28:

Begin Text:

On Monday, October 29, the U.S. Embassy will conduct limited
operations because of a security threat against the Embassy.
While there is no information at this time that other
American or Western interests in Azerbaijan are being
targeted, the U.S. Embassy encourages Americans to maintain a
high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to bolster
their own personal security. The Embassy will provide more
information as it becomes available.

No routine consular services will be provided. For emergency
American citizen services, the Duty Officer can be reached at
498-0335/6/7 24 hours a day. For the latest security
information, U.S. citizens living and traveling abroad should
regularly monitor the current Worldwide Caution, Public
Announcements, and Travel Warnings at the State Department's
Bureau of Consular Affairs website: http://travel.state.gov.
Security information also can be obtained by calling
1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada. A toll line
is available at 1-202-501-4444 for callers outside the U.S.
and Canada. These numbers are accessible from 8:00 a.m. to
8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday
(except U.S. federal holidays).

End Text.


4. (U) Recommended Press Guidance: The Embassy recommends
that the press guidance should be limited to the information
contained in the Warden Notice. If American citizens call
requesting additional information, the Embassy recommends
that they be told that the Embassy is constantly reviewing
the security situation and will be making information
available through the warden system and on the Embassy
website www.Azerbaijan.USEmbassy.gov.


5. (U) Post will seek EUR Bureau approval before returning
the Mission to normal status and reopening to the public.

DERSE