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