COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR EDWARD DOUGLAS MENARCHIK, ACTING E&E

UNCLAS BAKU 000068 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID OTRA US AJ SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR EDWARD DOUGLAS MENARCHIK, ACTING E&E BUREAU ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR REF: USAID/W E-MAIL/01/24/07 ¶1. EMBASSY BAKU GRANTS COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR USAID ACTING EUROPE AND EURASIA BUREAU ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR, EDWARD DOUGLAS MENARCHIK TO TRAVEL BAKU, AZERBAIJAN O/A FEBRUARY 6 THROUGH FEBRUARY 10, 2007. THE PURPOSE OF THE TRAVEL IS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP COMMISSION MEETINGS IN AZERBAIJAN. CONTROL OFFICER WILL BE USAID/CAUCASUS BAKU OFFICE COUNTRY COORDINATOR SCOTT TAYLOR. HE CAN BE REACHED AT THE EMBASSY AT EMAIL: STAYLOR@USAID.GOV MOBILE: (99450) 206 96 75 INTERNATIONAL LINE: (9) (9412) 498-03-35, 36, OR 37, TIE LINE: 841-0000 OR 0+4522 INTERNATIONAL FAX: (9 9412) 493-68-39 TIE LINE FAX: 841-4289. ¶2. ACCOMMODATIONS: POST HAS CONFIRMED RESERVATIONS AT THE HYATT PARK HOTEL. THE ROOM RATE AT THE HOTEL IS USD 218 PER NIGHT. THIS RATE INCLUDES BREAKFAST. PLEASE NOTE THAT CANCELLATION OR AMENDMENT OF A CONFIRMED RESERVATION MUST BE DONE 48 HOURS PRIOR TO ARRIVAL. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN A ONE-NIGHT CANCELLATION FEE. ¶3. VISAS: ALL TRAVELERS ARE ADVISED TO OBTAIN VISAS FOR ALL/ALL STOPS ON THEIR ITINERARY PRIOR TO THEIR DEPARTURE. WE RECOMMEND THAT TRAVELERS OBTAIN AZERI VISAS FROM THE EMBASSY OF AZERBAIJAN AT THE POINT OF ORIGIN, AND THAT THEY ALLOW 10 DAYS FOR PROCESSING OF THE VISA REQUEST. IF VISAS CANNOT BE OBTAINED AT THE TRAVELER'S POINT OF ORIGIN, AN AIRPORT VISA CAN BE ISSUED UPON ARRIVAL. PLEASE PROOF READ YOUR VISA CAREFULLY. AN OCCASIONAL EMBASSY GUEST HAS RECEIVED A VISA WITH AN ERROR IN IT. IF TRAVELING ON A DIPLOMATIC PASSPORT THERE IS NO FEE. IF TRAVELING ON TOURIST OR OFFICIAL PASSPORTS, THERE IS A 40 DOLLAR FEE FOR A SINGLE ENTRY, ONE WEEK VISA.PASSPORT ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE AT THE PASSPORT COUNTER IN ROOM 1258 OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT. THE EMBASSY OF AZERBAIJAN REQUIRES A MINIMUM OF TWO WORKING DAYS TO PROCESS VISA REQUESTS. SHOULD THE PROJECTED ITINERARY INCLUDE TRANSIT THROUGH TURKEY, VISITORS MUST OBTAIN TURKISH VISAS IN ADVANCE. BEARERS OF DIPLOMATIC OR OFFICIAL PASSPORTS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO PURCHASE AIRPORT VISAS IN TURKEY AND WILL BE DENIED EXIT FROM THE ISTANBUL AIRPORT. IF TRANSIT THROUGH RUSSIA IS NECESSARY, TRAVELERS MUST OBTAIN TRANSIT VISAS IN ADVANCE. ¶4. CELL PHONES AND COMPUTER ACCESS: --IF VISITORS REQUIRE ACCESS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE'S OPENNET OR CLASSNET SYSTEMS, THEY SHOULD ADVISE THEIR CONTROL OFFICER (VIA 
E-MAIL OR CABLE) OF THIS REQUIREMENT AT LEAST FIVE WORKDAYS PRIOR TO ARRIVAL. THE CONTROL OFFICER SHOULD IMMEDIATELY COMPLETE THE APPROPRIATE SYSTEMS REQUEST FORM (S) AND PASS TO THE RSO. THE RSO WILL VERIFY THE SECURITY CLEARANCE OF THE INDIVIDUAL (S) AND THEN PASS THE REQUEST TO ISC. --IF VISITORS REQUIRE CELLULAR TELEPHONE SERVICE WHILE IN BAKU, THEY MUST ADVISE THEIR CONTROL OFFICER (VIA E-MAIL OR CABLE) OF THIS REQUEST AT LEAST FIVE WORKDAYS PRIOR TO ARRIVAL. THIS REQUEST MUST/MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY FISCAL DATA TO PAY FOR THE REQUESTED SERVICE (USD 100). THE CONTROL OFFICER SHOULD IMMEDIATELY COMPLETE A WORK ORDER AND PASS IT TO THE GSO. ¶5. TRAVEL ADVISORY: TRAVELERS ARE ADVISED ALSO THAT THE ALTERNATE LANDING SITE FOR BA FLIGHT LONDON-BAKU IS TBILISI, GEORGIA. THE ALTERNATE LANDING SITE WOULD BE USED ONLY IN SITUATIONS WHICH PROHIBIT LANDING AT BAKU HEYDAR ALIYEV INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. ¶6. VISIT SCHEDULE: EMBASSY/BAKU WILL ARRANGE MEETINGS AS NECESSARY. ¶7. WEB SITE: USEFUL INFORMATION FOR ALL TRAVELERS IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT HTTP://BAKU.USEMBASSY.GOV. FOLLOW LINKS FOR CONSULAR SERVICES: TRAVELING TO AZERBAIJAN. ¶8. GENERAL REMINDERS: -- BRING SUFFICIENT CASH TO PAY FOR ALL EXPENSES EXCEPT LODGING. CREDIT CARDS ARE STILL ACCEPTED ONLY BY BUSINESSES THAT CATER TO FOREIGNERS, SUCH AS HOTELS, TRAVEL AGENCIES, INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES AND A FEW RESTAURANTS. -- THE EMBASSY HAS A CIRRUS/PLUS NETWORK ATM MACHINE, WHICH ACCEPTS MOST U.S. BANK CARDS. IT DISPENSES BOTH THE LOCAL CURRENCY (AZERBAIJANI MANAT) AND U.S. DOLLARS. -- BRING SUPPLIES OF ALL HARD-TO-FIND FOODS, TOILETRIES AND MEDICINES. WESTERN COMMODITIES ARE SOLD IN BAKU BUT ARE EXPENSIVE AND NOT ALWAYS AVAILABLE. -- DRINK ONLY BOTTLED WATER; TAP WATER IS NOT POTABLE. ¶9. SECURITY: CRIME IN BAKU IS COMPARABLE WITH THAT OF MAJOR U.S. CITIES. VISITORS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION, AVOID WALKING ALONE AFTER DARK, AND BE AWARE OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS AT ALL TIMES. STREET CRIME INCLUDES PCKPOCKETS, JEWELRY SNATCHING AND ARMED ROBBERY. I CONFRONTED, NO RESISTANCE SHOULD BE GIVEN AND VALUABLES SHOULD BE SURRENDERED. MEDICAL FACILITIES ARE LIMITED IN DEALING WITH MAJOR TRAUMA CARE. VISITORS SHOULD KEEP THEIR PASSPORTS OR A COPY WITH THEM AT ALL TIMES. COUNTERFEIT U.S. DOLLARS ARE OFTEN PASSED IN BAKU. VISITORS SHOULD EXCHANGE MONEY ONLY AT THE MAJOR BANKS AND HOTELS, OR AT THE EMBASSY CASHIER. ¶10. SECURITY CLEARANCE LEVEL: ALL VISITORS WHO REQUIRE ACCESS TO CLEARED AREAS AND "NO ESCORT" ID BADGES MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF THEIR SECURITY CLEARANCE BY FRONT CHANNEL CABLE. ¶11. MEET AND ASSIST: USAID/BAKU EMPLOYEE WILL MEET AT THE AIRPORT. DERSE