COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR SANDIA LABS BYRON GARDNER

UNCLAS RIYADH 000428

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EPET ASEC AMGT
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR SANDIA LABS BYRON GARDNER

REF: A. SECSTATE 24920

B. SECSTATE 25083


1. (SBU) The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia welcomes and
grants provisional country clearance for Mr. Byron H.
Gardner, National Nuclear Security Administration, Office of
Defense Programs, Sandia Laboratories, to participate in the
Joint Working Group and related meetings from March 3-20.


2. (U) The Mission must direct charge all visit support
costs. Country clearance is expressly conditional on advance
receipt or assurances of complete fiscal data covering all
support expenses for all visitors and delegation members.
Please see Para 6 for details.


3. (SBU) Mission Control Officer will be Energy Attache
Shannon Ross. She will meet Byron Gardener upon arrival and
transportation will be provided. Contact numbers are:
Embassy MSG Post One (966-1) 488-3800, Ext. 4111; Embassy
Motorpool - (966-1) 488-3800, Ext. 4252; Control Officer Home
(966-1) 481-6013, Office Ext. 4349, Cell Phone (966-50)
061-8698. Her e-mail is rosssm2@state.gov.

3.A. (U) IF COUNTRY CLEARANCE INVOLVES TRAVEL TO DHAHRAN:
The Consultate General Dhahran will pick up and drop off
official visitors who arrive at Dammam International Airport
(DMM) as required. Travelers requesting pick up or drop off
service from Manama, Bahrain (BAH) can be accomodated by
covering the costs (USD 100) to cover Consulate expenses for
mileage, driver overtime, causeway tolls and fees, and cost
of driver visas for the international travel between Dhahran,
Saudi Arabia and Manana, Bahrain. Travelers needing this
service are requested to provide a fund cite to which to
charge this expense.


4. (SBU) Lodging arrangement have been made at the
Intercontinental Hotel in Riyadh at the rate of $307 per
night. The Intercontinental is located on Maazar Street in
Riyadh; the phone number is 966.1.465.5000, and the fax
number is 966.1.465.7833. Lodging is not available within
per diem rates during the requested time period. Travelers
should make arrangements for actual expense costs in their
travel orders. Hotel arrangements are being made in Dhahran
at the Meridian Hotel; details will be provided separately.
Credit card or cash is acceptable at local hotels; cash is
best for other lodging. Please note all hotel arrangements
are made by post, rather than the traveler, in accordance
with current security guidelines.


5. (SBU) Sponsoring office shall issue visitors a cell
phone and provide the number to the Embassy switchboard.
Travelers are required to have an active functioning cell
phone at all times.

Standard Advice to Travelers
--------------


6. Visit Typical Expenses

a. (U) VIP: We calculate the average cost per day/per
person to be approximately USD 428.00 for VIP visitors with a
special agenda above the rank of Office Director to any post
in Saudi Arabia. Actual costs will be charged to the fiscal
data provided.

(U) Typical costs include, but are not limited to, American
and Locally Employed Staff's overtime, holiday pay and
premium pay as applicable, field travel by Embassy personnel,
transportation costs, vehicle rental, telephone installation
and service, equipment rental, printing expenses, supplies,
and any other costs that can be directly attributed to the
visit.

b. (U) Operational Support: Typical costs include
overtime for Locally Employed Staff, overtime and mileage for
motorpool if after hours transportation required, cell phone
and any other costs that can be directly attributed to the
visit.


7. TDY of 30 Days or Longer

a. (SBU) Certification that travelers remaining at post for
30 days or longer have completed the appropriate, mandatory
overseas personal security training, prior to arrival at post
(State 66580, March 25, 2004). Waivers to this requirement
may only be granted by the Chief of Mission. Requests should
be sent to Ambassador James Oberwetter or Deputy Chief of
Mission Michael Gfoeller.

b. (SBU) For TDYers remaining at post over 30 days, there
will be a charge for ICASS support. If your sponsoring
agency has not signed up for ICASS services at post, please
be prepared to sign a MOU for ICASS support services upon
arrival. The agency should provide post with a written
authorization, generated by the traveler's headquarters, that
confirms the agency will pay ICASS charges for the TDYer,
provide the agency ICASS billing code, and authorize the
traveler to sign the ICASS invoice generated by the TDY
module. Where travel is urgent, TDYers should bring this
documentation with them to ensure there will be no
interruption in service. Post will not provide service to a
TDYer in excess of 30 days without this documentation prior
to day 31 of the TDY. For each sponsoring agency that sends
a series of TDYers for less than 30 days, post will add total
TDY days and if the total exceeds 30 days, count them as a
single TDY.

c. (U) The Department of State Medical Unit recommends
vaccination against meningitis for all visitors to Saudi
Arabia. All employees, including WAEs and Civil Service
employees who are in TDY status for more than 60 days
(cumulatively) in a calendar year, are required to have
up-to-date medical clearances from the Office of Medical
Services at Class 1 or Class 2 levels in order to receive
full State Department medical benefits (3 FAM 1931.3, c, e).


8. (SBU) Security: As a result of the continuing terrorist
threat in Saudi Arabia, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates
General in Saudi Arabia became one-year unaccompanied posts
effective August 12, 2004.

(SBU) All incoming personnel (TDY or PCS) must receive an
RSO-approved security brief prior to or upon arrival. The
Control Officer designated in the country clearance cable is
responsible for ensuring the appropriate brief is obtained.
For TDY personnel with stays of less than 96 hours and where
travel is limited to Riyadh with nearly all visit activity
occurring within the Diplomatic Quarter, an RSO-written brief
provided in paper or electronic form to the visitor by the
Control Officer will satisfy the requirement. For all other
circumstances, the Control Officer must provide the traveler
the paper or electronic brief before or upon the visitor's
arrival, PLUS arrange for an appropriate security briefing
session with the RSO.

(SBU) Travel is performed only in Embassy vehicles. Use of
taxis, private cars, hotel shuttles, and public
transportation for all travel within the city is not
authorized.

(SBU) Travelers to Saudi Arabia are advised that their hotel
rooms and any telephones used may be monitored during their
stay in the Kingdom. Travelers should report any unusual
occurrences to the Embassy or Consulate General RSO.

(U) On December 6, 2004, there was an armed attack on the
U.S. Consulate in Jeddah, resulting in casualties among the
non-American staff and damage to Consulate facilities. Due
to such targeted attacks against American facilities and
citizens, resulting in deaths, injuries and kidnappings, and
the continuing serious threat to their safety while in Saudi
Arabia, the Department of State continues to warn U.S.
citizens to defer travel to Saudi Arabia.

(SBU) TDYers are reminded of the potential for further
terrorist actions against U.S. citizens abroad, including in
the Persian Gulf region. USG employees who travel to Saudi
Arabia are required to follow all security precautions as
prescribed by the Regional Security Officer including the use
of armored vehicles. From time to time, the U.S. Embassy and
Consulates in Saudi Arabia may restrict the travel of
official Americans or suspend public services for security
reasons.

(SBU) Although counter-terrorism efforts have succeeded in
diminishing terrorist capabilities in Saudi Arabia, terrorist
groups continue to target housing compounds, hotels, methods
of transportation, and commercial establishments where
Westerners can be found. Saudi Government facilities are
also targets as demonstrated by the December 29,2004
attempted bombing of the Ministry of Interior. In addition
to car bombs and armed assaults involving multiple gunmen
against such facilities, terrorists have also used ambush
attacks to kidnap and/or assassinate individual Westerners.

(SBU) These incidents argue strongly that U.S. citizens in
Saudi Arabia should maintain a low profile, keep travel to a
minimum, vary travel routes and times, and treat any mail
from unfamiliar sources with suspicion. American citizens
are also cautioned to remain alert and aware of their
surroundings while moving about the city.


9. (SBU) The Embassy approves the use of computers,
laptops, and digital cameras at post in accordance with 12
FAM 600 established regulations. Stand-alone use of laptops
will be allowed with the standard caveat that nothing be
connected to DOS systems. Computers, laptops and digital
cameras must stay outside of CAA areas. Prior notification
of the use of cameras must be approved by the RSO. It should
be noted that Saudi law, especially as it is interpreted in
the capital of Riyadh, rigidly controls photography. We
strongly urge visitors to avoid taking photographs in any
public place without the express and prior involvement of the
RSO.


10. (SBU) Visas: Visitors are also reminded that valid
visas for Saudi Arabia are required at all times. Travelers
are advised that submitting passports to the Saudi
authorities that contain Israeli visas or evidence of travel
to Israel may result in difficulties securing a Saudi visa or
gaining entry to the Kingdom. Official travelers to Saudi
Arabia should request a two-year, multiple-entry visa from
the nearest Saudi Embassy or Consulate.


11. (SBU) Passports: Visitors are reminded to keep a copy
of their passport with them at all times while in Saudi
Arabia as it may be needed for identification. The original
should be kept in a safe place.


12. (SBU) Prohibited Items: Strict Islamic law is the
foundation of the Kingdom's customs and practices. The norms
for public behavior are extremely conservative. Saudi Arabia
outlaws the importation, sale or use of alcohol in the
Kingdom, and visitors must not attempt to bring any alcohol,
pork products or printed materials that may be construed as
pornographic or proselytizing into the Kingdom. Penalties
include confiscation, fines and may extend to denial of
entry.


13. (SBU) Drugs: Saudi Arabia strictly prohibits the
importation of controlled substances, including narcotics,
methamphetamines, depressants and hallucinogens). The
penalty for violation of this law is death.

(SBU) Prescription drugs in small quantities, clearly
labeled, should cause no difficulties. Problems arise when
they are in large quantities, unlabeled, or lack
documentation (such as a copy of the prescription),or when
they are deemed illicit by Saudi authorities. Many drugs
sold in nearby countries without a prescription are
considered illegal here. Individuals are arrested for
possession of these drugs.


14. (U) Dress: While visiting the Kingdom, women and men
should dress conservatively. Guidance issued by the Saudi
Embassy in Washington states that non-Muslim women are not
required to wear an abayya, but should dress conservatively
(loose fitting skirts/dresses that fall well below the knee
with long sleeves and a high neckline) when in public. This
is also the position of the U.S. Embassy.

(SBU) However, while Embassy personnel are not required to
wear the abayya and/or hijaab (scarf) on official business,
many Western women choose to wear the abayya and hijaab while
conducting their personal affairs in order to avoid unwanted
attention and/or harassment by the Mutawwa'in (religious
police). Upon request, the Embassy will loan female visitors
abayyas for the duration of their stay in the Kingdom.

(SBU) It is the policy of the Embassy to support a woman in
her decision to wear or not wear the abayya and/or hijaab.


OBERWETTER


OBERWETTER