BERLIN: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED TO

UNCLAS BERLIN 000940

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT ASEC OTRA PARM PREL GM
SUBJECT: BERLIN: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED TO
NONPROLIFERATION DIRECTORS' GROUP

REF: STATE 61706


1. (SBU) Embassy welcomes and grants country clearance to
Deputy Assistant Secretary Andrew K. Semmel, ISN/DOS
Alexander T. Liebowitz, and Senior Policy Advisor Gerald
Stacy to participate in the G-8 NPDG meeting from May 12-15,

2007.


2. (SBU) Point of contact for this visit will be Global
Affairs Officer Richard Crandell, who can be reached at
office telephone 49(30)8305-2309, fax 49-30-8305-2339, home
phone 49(30)2300-4475, mobile phone 49 (0) 173-945-4720 and
email CrandellRD@state.gov. Per reftel, Post will assist
with transportation to and from the meeting location.


3. (U) Post and German authorities continuously review
information that could impact on the safety and security of
your visit to Germany. At this time, we are not aware of any
specific, credible threats to your traveling party.


4. (U) The Department of State assesses German cities with a
U.S. diplomatic presence as high for transnational terrorism
and medium for criminal activity. On 20 April 2007, The U.S.
Embassy released a public announcement stating that security
at U.S. diplomatic and consular facilities throughout Germany
had increased their security posture in response to a
heightened security environment. This heightened threat of a
terrorist attack continues and visitors are encouraged to
consult with the Regional Security Office or Control Officer
prior to travel. The full text of this public announcement
is available on the internet at www.usembassy.de.


5. (U) While there have been no recent significant domestic
terrorist attacks in Germany, the country remains a potential
venue for transnational terrorism. German troops are
currently deployed in Afghanistan and are assisting with the
NATO training mission in Iraq. In addition, the country
continues to host a sizeable number of U.S. military
installations, almost all of which are involved in our
current military efforts in Iraq. A March 2007 video,
apparently produced by Islamic extremists, specifically
threatened Germany with terrorist attacks as a result of the
country's military deployment in Afghanistan. In June 2006,
two improvised explosive devices were placed aboard regional
commuter trains in Western Germany; the devices failed to
function and the perpetrators were apprehended. Nonetheless,
the incident is a reminder that Germany is not immune from
the threat of terrorism.


6. (U) The most common threat to official USG travelers in
Germany is petty crime. Pick-pocketing, bag-snatching, and
confidence schemes are often perpetrated against obvious
tourists and foreigners in large German cities. Hotel room
break-ins and thefts from automobiles, while infrequent, have
occurred in the past. Armed robbery, home invasion, and
car-jacking are all but non-existent in Germany. Taxis, as
well as Germany's extensive public transportation network,
are safe and may be used by USG personnel.


7. (U) Large-scale protests are a common feature of daily
life in major German cities. Only rarely are such protests
held without police sanction, and German authorities are
skilled in crowd control techniques. The overwhelming
majority of protests occur without violence, although marches
and demonstrations by right-wing and Neo-Nazi extremists have
recently drawn violent counter-protests from the left-wing
community.


8. (U) Visitors to Germany should practice the same good
common-sense personal security practices that are an every
day part of life in U.S. cities. A heightened sense of
situational awareness should be exercised when in popular
tourist areas, train stations, and other soft-target venues.
Large gatherings and demonstrations, regardless of the theme
or topic, should be avoided. USG visitors are encouraged to
report unusual, suspicious, threatening, or harassing
behavior to the nearest Mission Germany Regional Security
Office at the numbers listed below.


9. (U) German law enforcement agencies are professional and
extremely supportive to the U.S. government and all of our
concerns. The countrywide police emergency telephone number
is 110. The fire department and ambulance service may be
reached at telephone 112. The U.S. Embassy in Berlin reports
current threat information for American citizens at
030-832-9233.


10. (U) Further questions regarding this assessment may be
directed to the Regional Security Office in Berlin at
49-30-8305-1400, in Frankfurt at 49-69-7535-2444, or in

Munich at 49-89-2888-625.
TIMKEN JR