COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR EAP ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL

UNCLAS TOKYO 001535

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA PREL JA
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR EAP ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL
AND DELEGATION

REF: EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE


1. (U) Embassy welcomes and grants country clearance for
the April 9-10, 2007 visit to Japan by EAP A/S Christopher
Hill, EAP/K Director Sung Kim and Special Assistant Thomas
Gibbons. A notional schedule will follow separately.


2. (U) Control Officer for the visit will be Keith Jordan.
He can be reached at:

Office phone: (81-3)3224-5343
Home phone: (81-3)3224-6949
Mobile phone: 81-90-7289-8815
Fax: (81-3)3224-5322
E-mail: jordankc@state.gov (unclassified)

Confirmation Numbers:
A/S Christopher Hill - 866371
Mr. Thomas Gibbons - 866375
Mr. Sung Kim - 866380

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Hotel Reservations
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3. (U) Tokyo hotel reservations have been made for the night
of 09 April at:

Hotel Okura
2-10-4 Toranomon
Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8416
Tel: (81-3) 3582-0111
Fax: (81-3) 3582-3707
Email: www.okura.com

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Airport to Hotel Transportation
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4. (U) Control Officer will meet and assist at the airport.
Twenty-four hour currency exchange facilities are available
in the customs area and the arrival lobby of the airport.
Travel time from Tokyo Narita Airport to downtown Tokyo is
90-120 minutes, depending on traffic.

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Visa
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5. (U) Holders of U.S. diplomatic or official passports
must have a Japanese visa to enter Japan. Travelers on a
U.S. tourist (blue cover) passport may enter Japan as a
tourist without a Japanese visa for up to 90 days.

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Communication and Embassy Laptop Policy
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6. (U) Cellphones and blackberries from the U.S. have been
know to have problems working here in Japan. Embassy will
issue cellphones to incoming visitors upon request. The
Embassy's laptop policy is as follows: Absolutely no
personal, non-government owned laptop computers may enter the
Embassy. Absolutely no laptop, even government owned, may be
connected to the Embassy network in any way. TDY employees
are reminded that no government owned laptops may enter the
Embassy without prior RSO approval. Absolutely no laptop,
even government owned, inside CAA areas unless special
pre-approval, based on business need, has been given. If you
would like to bring a US government owned and provided laptop
computer into the Embassy, please contact the RSO's office
prior to your visit for the briefing and approval.

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Threat Assessment
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7. (U) U.S. Government facilities worldwide remain at a
heightened state of alert. As the U.S. Government has
reported in public announcements over the last several
months, U.S. citizens and interests abroad may be at
increased risk of terrorist actions from extremist groups,
which may target civilians and include suicide operations.
Most recently, we advised that we had unconfirmed information
that terrorist actions may be taken against U.S. Military
facilities and/or establishments frequented by U.S. military
personnel in Korea and Japan. Americans should increase
their security awareness and avoid locations where Americans
are generally known to congregate. The Department will
continue to develop information about potential threats to

Americans overseas and to share credible threat information
through its consular information program documents available
on the internet at the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page:
http://www.travel.state.gov.


8. (U) In addition, we continue to be concerned about
information we received in May 2001 that American citizens
may be the target of a terrorist threat from extremist groups
with links to Usama Bin Laden's Al-Qaida organization. In
the past, such individuals have not distinguished between
official and civilian targets. The Embassy takes all threats
seriously. The U.S. Embassy Tokyo can be contacted 24 hours
a day at 03-3224-5000 (locally) or 81-3-3224-5000
(internationally).


9. (SBU) The general threat from crime in Tokyo and
throughout Japan is low. Crime is at levels well below the
U.S. national average. Violent crime is rare, but does
exist. The Japanese National Police report continued
problems with pick-pocketing of foreigners in crowded
shopping areas of Tokyo. Although street crime is low,
common sense security measures are advised for all American
citizens traveling in Japan.


10. (SBU) Visitors are urged to maintain a high level of
vigilance and to increase their security awareness.
Americans should maintain a low profile, vary routes and
times for all required travel, and treat mail and packages
from unfamiliar sources with suspicion. Visitors are also
urged to avoid contact with any suspicious, unfamiliar
objects, and to report the presence of such objects to local
authorities. Vehicles should not be left unattended and
should be kept locked at all times.
SCHIEFFER