COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED TO BRAD BELL FEBRUARY 2

UNCLAS PRISTINA 000085 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OTRA ASEC UNMIK SR SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED TO BRAD BELL FEBRUARY 2 REF: VIENNA 207 ¶1. US Office Pristina welcomes and grants country clearance to Brad Bell, U.S. Liaison to UNOSEK, February 2, 2007 to travel with UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari, who will present his Comprehensive Proposal for the Future Status of Kosovo to the negotiating teams in both Pristina and Belgrade. Point of Contact for this visit will be Political/Economic Chief, Tom Yazdgerdi, who can be reached at: office 381-38-549-516 ext. 3146; GSM 377-44-501-750; fax 381-38-549-890. ¶2. Post understands that no 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. ¶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. KAIDANOW