COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED TO HASSAN AHMED

UNCLAS PRISTINA 000034 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR OTRA BU SR MW YI SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED TO HASSAN AHMED REF: AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 30 ¶1. US Office Pristina welcomes and grants country clearance to Hassan Ahmed, Regional Agricultural Attache to visit Pristina January 23 - 26, 2007. The purpose of the visit is to overview USDA/FAS programs and activities in Kosovo. Control Officer for this visit will be Economic Officer, Shante Moore, who can be reached at: office 381-38-549-516 ext. 33141; GSM 377-44-501-745; fax 381-38-549-890. ¶2. Post will coordinate arrangements with Belgrade for ABL Merdare transfer. Post will also make arrangements for transportation for official meetings during the visit. Accommodations have been confirmed at Hotel Ambassador. Room rate is 75 euros a night, including breakfast, internet, mini bar - four drinks daily. The hotel accepts cash and credit cards. Please note that there is an extra charge of 4% if paying by credit card. ¶3. Kosovo is a cash (Euro) economy. There are a few operating ATMs. A few large stores and some hotels take credit cards. Not all ATMS are reliable and personnel should use normal ATM safety precautions. TDY personnel should bring sufficient cash or travelers' checks to cover all hotel and other incidental expenses and may exchange dollars for Euros from 9:00am-11:30am and 1:00pm-3:30pm each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and 9:00am-11:30am each Thursday at the U.S. Office cashier. Only USOP accepts travelers' checks. Reverse accommodation is available at the end of the visit. ¶4. Security issues: The security situation in Kosovo is fluid and there is still risk from occasional episodes of violence; incidents of ethnic violence continue to occur. Land mines remain in some outlying areas. Civil society institutions generally do not yet meet Western standards. There is criminal activity against internationals, including purse snatching and residential break-ins and general precautions are recommended. KFOR is deployed throughout Kosovo. Electronic devices such as laptops (personal or official),PDA cell phones with cameras, and the like must be approved for use in USOP facilities by an ISSO in consultation with the RSO. ¶5. Travel to certain areas within Kosovo province requires fully armored vehicles and advance RSO approval. To facilitate planning, please provide travel itinerary to USOP in advance of arrival, as same-day travel can be difficult to arrange. To provide appropriate access to USOP facilities, visitors must ensure all necessary security clearances are included with travel messages. ¶6. Please ensure ASEC tags are included to ensure proper distribution. Specific questions regarding security may be addressed to USOP's RSO or your control officer. LASKARIS