COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR DR. VICTOR CHA, DIRECTOR FOR

UNCLAS TOKYO 001591 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OTRA PREL JA SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR DR. VICTOR CHA, DIRECTOR FOR ASIAN AFFAIRS REF: WHITE HOUSE 110002Z APR 07 ¶1. (U) Embassy welcomes and grants country clearance for the April 12-13, 2007 visit to Japan by Dr. Victor Cha, Director for Asian Affairs. 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) -------------- Hotel Reservations -------------- ¶3. (U) Tokyo hotel reservations have been made for the night of 12 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 Confirmation number: 627068 -------------- Airport to Hotel Transportation -------------- ¶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. -------------- Visa -------------- ¶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. -------------- Communication and Embassy Laptop Policy -------------- ¶6. (U) Cellphones and blackberries from the U.S. have been know to have problems working here in Japan. 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. -------------- Threat Assessment -------------- ¶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. DONOVAN