COOK ISLANDS COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR DHS/TSA SPECIALISTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 WELLINGTON 000014 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR EAP/ANP - DAN RICCI HOMELAND SECURITY FOR TSA HQ, INT'L PROGRAMS, TSA-1,TSA-7 TSA HQ WASHINGTON DC FOR INT'L PROGRAMS, TSA-1, TSA-7 SIPDIS SYDNEY FOR TSA REP PENNY ANDERSON E.O. 12985: N/A TAGS: KHLS EAIR ASEC PTER OTRA NZ SUBJECT: COOK ISLANDS COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR DHS/TSA SPECIALISTS GREGORY KUVER AND SUZANNE VENTURA, FEBRUARY 5-10, 2007 REF: 06 SINGAPORE 3831 ¶1. (SBU) Embassy welcomes and grants country clearance to Gregory Kuver and Suzanne Ventura, DHS/TSA, to travel to Rarotonga, Cook Islands, from February 5 - 10, 2007. The purpose of this visit is to conduct airport and air carrier station assessments/inspections. ¶2. (SBU) Embassy point of contact is Economic Officer Tom Walsh. Contact details are as follows: Office: 644-462-6182 Fax: 644-472-3537 Cell: 027-446-4467 E-mail: WalshTJ@state.gov Cook Islands points of contacts are as follows: Aukino Tairea Secretary of Transport and Deputy Director of Civil Aviation SIPDIS Cook Islands ministry of Transport transport@oyster.net.ck GP (Pira) Wichman Commissioner Ministry of Police Cook Islands National Headquarters PO Box 101 Rarotonga, Cook Islands Ph (682)22499, Fax (682)21499 Joseph Ngamata Chief Executive Airport Authority PO Box 90 Rarotonga, Cook Islands Ph (682)25890, Fax (682)25980 jngamata@airport.gov.ck Security Assessment -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The Cook Islands is a Parliamentary democracy in free association with New Zealand, on which they rely for defense and assistance in meeting low-level security threats. The Embassy is not aware of any specific threats to U.S. facilities or personnel at this time in the Cook Islands. However, in light of the worldwide security alert all visitors should heighten their security awareness and report any unusual incidents to the Regional Security Office at the Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand (telephone (64)(4)462-6000, 24 hours/day). ¶4. (SBU) Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the U.S. and the 2002 and 2005 terrorist bombings in Bali, there has been concern that terrorists might seek to take advantage of the low level of security maintained in small island states such as the Cook Islands in order to target tourists in previously safe destinations. New Zealand has worked with the Cook Islands to improve airport security in response to this possibility. ¶5. (U) As a result of recent military action in Iraq, there is a potential for retaliatory actions to be taken against U.S. citizens and interests throughout the world. Public demonstrations carry the potential for precipitating violence directed at American citizens. ¶6. (SBU) U.S. Government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of alert and some have drawn down their dependents and/or personnel. These facilities may temporarily close or suspend public services from time to time for security reasons. In those instances, U.S. embassies and consulates will make every effort to provide emergency services to American citizens. Monitor the local news and maintain contact with the nearest American Embassy or U.S. Consulate. ¶7. (U) Crime: Appropriate common sense precautions should be taken, especially at night, to avoid becoming a target of opportunity. ¶8. (U) Weather: Severe cyclones present a threat during the hurricane season; however, this is generally only from November to March. WELLINGTON 00000014 002 OF 002 Keegan