COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR ANDREW H. SCHUT,

UNCLAS NICOSIA 000737 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OTRA AMGT CY SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR ANDREW H. SCHUT, KATHERINE F. STEWART AND WILLIAM M. RANKIN REF: SECSTATE 125032 ¶1. COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR ANDREW H. SCHUT ARRIVING SEPTEMBER 12 AND DEPARTING SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR KATHERINE F. STEWART AND WILLIAM M. RANKIN ARRIVING SEPTEMBER 12 AND DEPARTING SEPTEMBER 16, ¶2007. CONTACT OFFICER IS ECONOMIC CHIEF, JAMES CAROUSO; OFFICE: 357-22-393359, FAX: 357-22-393467, E-MAIL: CAROUSOJA@STATE.GOV. ¶2. HOTEL RESERVATIONS MADE FOR HILTON PARK HOTEL IN NICOSIA. NO RESERVATION NUMBER NEEDED. POINT OF CONTACT AT HOTEL IS MS. ELENI PARTILLA AT 357-22-695023. LOCAL TRANSPORTATION FROM LARNACA AIRPORT IS APPROXIMATELY 30 CYPRIOT POUNDS (65.00 DOLLARS). ¶3. 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. ¶4. 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. ¶5. ALL OFFICIAL TRAVELERS TO CYPRUS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REVIEW SECURITY-BRIEFING MATERIAL AVAILABLE IN THE REGIONAL SECURITY OFFICE UPON ARRIVAL AT POST. ¶6. 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. ¶7. 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