COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR THY M. NGUYEN

UNCLAS TOKYO 000456

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA PREL JA
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR THY M. NGUYEN

REF: STATE 11879


1. (U) Embassy welcomes and grants country clearance for
the February 06 - May 03, 2007 visit to Japan by Bureau of
International Security and Nonproliferation Foreign Affairs
Officer Thy M. Nguyen.


2. (U) Embassy Point of Contact for the visit will be
Geneve Menscher. She can be reached at:

Office phone: (81-3)3224-5344
Home phone: (81-3)3224-6423
Mobile phone: 81-90-7907-9591
Fax: (81-3)3224-5322
E-mail: menscherge@state.gov (unclassified)

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Airport to Hotel Transportation
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3. (U) Visitors should take the airport "limousine" bus
directly to the ANA hotel in Akasaka where she will be met by
Embassy staff. The limousine bus counter is located in the
Tokyo Narita Airport Arrival lobby. Look for the orange
signs as you walk through the doors from the customs area to
the main lobby. The bus fare is 3,000 Yen. 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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4. (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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Embassy Laptop Policy
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5. (U) 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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6. (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.


7. (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).


8. (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.


9. (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