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