COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR PROPOSED MAP PROCUREMENT

UNCLAS NICOSIA 000695 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AINR OTRA CY SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR PROPOSED MAP PROCUREMENT MISSION (MAYFIELD, SARA) REF: SECSTATE 117965 ¶1. COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR INR/I/M GEOGRAPHIC SPECIALIST SARA MAYFIELD FOR TRAVEL TO CYPRUS FOR MAP PROCUREMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC REPORTING. CONTROL OFFICER IS A.MARIE NEWCOMB, POL/ECON OMS WITH CONTACT INFO: TEL: 357-22-393530, FAX: 357-22-393467, EMAIL: NEWCOMBMA@STATE.GOV. POST WILL SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS WITH THE SUGGESTED MAPPING SOURCES AND ARRANGE ENTRANCE TO THE CHANCERY. ¶2. HOTEL RESERVATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AT THE HOLIDAY INN NICOSIA CITY CENTRE WITH CONTACT INFO: TEL: 357-22-712777 AT AN EMBASSY RATE OF 49.00 CYPRUS POUNDS PER NIGHT, INCLUDING BREAKFAST. THE EXCHANGE RATE IS APPROXIMATELY 1 CYPRUS POUND = 2.30 U.S. DOLLARS. ¶3. SPECIALIST MAYFIELD IS INSTRUCTED TO ARRANGE TRANSPORTATION AT LARNACA AIRPORT TO NICOSIA VIA TAXI SERVICE FOR APPROXIMATELY 25.00 CYPRUS POUNDS ONE-WAY. ¶4. ELECTRONIC DEVICES: THE RSO MUST APPROVE ANY ELECTRONIC DEVICE THE VISITOR MAY WISH TO BRING INTO ANY MISSION FACILITY. PRIVATELY OWNED LAPTOPS AND PERSONAL COMPUTERS, PERIPHERALS, DISKETTES AND TAPES ARE PROHIBITED IN ALL MISSION FACILITIES. CELLULAR/MOBILE PHONES AND PALM PILOTS ARE PROHIBITED IN CAA AREAS. ¶5. TRAVELERS WITH USG-OWNED UNCLASSIFIED LAPTOPS OR NOTEBOOK COMPUTERS, PERIPHERALS, DISKETTES AND TAPES MUST RECEIVE RSO/IMO AUTHORIZATION PRIOR TO BEING GRANTED ACCESS TO U.S. MISSION BUILDINGS. USG-OWNED CLASSIFIED COMPUTERS MUST BE SENT TO POST VIA CLASSIFIED DIPLOMATIC POUCH. CLASSIFIED EQUIPMENT MUST BEAR EXTERNAL USG BAR-CODE INVENTORY NUMBERS AND CLASSIFICATION MARKINGS COMMENSURATE WITH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF INFORMATION PROCESSED ON THE SYSTEM. QUESTIONS CONCERNING OTHER TYPES OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND MAGNETIC MEDIA MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE RSO AND IMO. ¶6. ALL OFFICIAL TRAVELERS TO CYPRUS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REVIEW SECURITY-BRIEFING MATERIAL AVAILABLE IN THE REGIONAL SECURITY OFFICE UPON ARRIVAL AT POST. ¶7. AS NOTED IN THE JUNE 6, 2006 DEPARTMENT OF STATE WORLDWIDE CAUTION PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT, AMERICAN CITIZENS TRAVELING ANYWHERE, INCLUDING CYPRUS, ARE REMINDED TO MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF VIGILANCE. VISITORS SHOULD KEEP A LOW PROFILE, BE ALERT TO ANY SIGNS OF SURVEILLANCE, VARY ROUTES AND TIMES FOR REQUIRED TRAVEL AND TREAT ALL MAIL FROM UNFAMILIAR SOURCES WITH SUSPICION. SUSPICIOUS INCIDENTS OR ACTIVITY MUST BE REPORTED TO THE RSO IMMEDIATELY. ¶8. CYPRUS IS CONSIDERED A HIGH-THREAT POST WITH A LOW CRIME RATE. IT HAS GOOD HYGIENIC CONDITIONS AND A FINE ARRAY OF GOODS AND SERVICES. AMERICANS TRAVELING TO CYPRUS ON A TDY BASIS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO OBTAIN ENTRY VISAS. THE HOST GOVERNMENT HAS DESIGNATED LARNACA AND PAPHOS AIRPORTS AS AUTHORIZED POINTS OF ENTRY INTO THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS; USG TRAVELERS CONSIDERING ARRIVAL VIA OTHER PORTS MUST CONSULT THE EMBASSY BEFORE MAKING THEIR ARRANGEMENTS. VISITORS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE RATES FROM CYPRUS, ESPECIALLY FROM HOTELS, ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. ENGLISH IS WIDELY SPOKEN AND UNDERSTOOD. SCHLICHER