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