COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED TO AMBASSADOR WARE AND DEFENSE

UNCLAS PRISTINA 000340 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO AORC OTRA ASEC FI SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED TO AMBASSADOR WARE AND DEFENSE ATTACHE SHASTEEN REF: HELSINKI 301 ¶1. US Office Pristina welcomes and grants country clearance to U.S. Ambassador to Finland Marilyn Ware and Embassy Finland Defense Attach COL. Joy Shasteen to visit Pristina May 8-10, 2007. The purpose of the visit is to escort six Finnish NATO tour participants. Point of Contact for this visit will be Deputy Principal Officer Alex Laskaris, who can be reached at: office 381-38-5959-3191; GSM 377-44-153-566; fax 381-38-153-563. ¶2. Post understands all logistics for the delegation while in Kosovo will be managed by the Finnish government and that no USOP assistance is required. ¶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. ¶3. 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. ¶4. 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. ¶5. 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. KAIDANOW