Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
08BRUSSELS494 | 2008-04-03 12:59:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | USEU Brussels |
1. COUNTRY CLEARANCE IS GRANTED FOR THE APRIL 9-11, 2008 VISIT TO BRUSSELS, BELGIUM OF JOHN P. WALTERS, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY (ONDCP) AND DELEGATION, INCLUDING BRIAN BLAKE, ONDCP DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF; PATRICK M WARD, ONDCP ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR SUPPLY REDUCTION; THOMAS RILEY, ONDCP ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFARIS; JENNIFER L. DEVALLANCE, ONDCP PRESS SECRETARY; AND BRICE MIDDLETON, ONDCP POLICY ANALYST TO VISIT SIPDIS WITH EUROPEAN UNION AND NATO OFFICIALS REGARDING US COUNTERNARCOTICS ISSUES. 2. THE USEU CONTROL OFFICER IS JAMES P. MCANULTY, USEU COUNSELOR FOR INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT (INL) AFFAIRS. MR. MCANULTY CAN BE REACHED BY PHONE (OFFICE) 32-2-508-2672 AND (CELLULAR) 32-475-816-909. ALL NUMBERS CAN BE REACHED THROUGH THE TRI-MISSION 24 HOUR SWITCHBOARD 32-2-508-2111. 3. THE MISSION IS SETTING UP APPROPRIATE MEETINGS AS REQUESTED. HOTEL RESERVATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AND TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN AIRPORT, HOTEL, AND MEETINGS WILL BE PROVIDED. 4. BELGIUM REMAINS A RELATIVELY SAFE COUNTRY BUT AS A RESULT OF THE WAR IN IRAQ, AND SENTIMENTS EXPRESSED BY ITS CITIZENS AGAINST THE WAR, AMERICAN VISITORS ARE ADVISED TO EXERCISE CAUTION AND AVOID ANTI-AMERICAN DEMONSTRATIONS. ALSO, IT IS PRUDENT NOT TO WEAR CLOTHES OR CARRY ARTICLES WITH LOGOS AND EMBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE UNITED STATES. BY TAKING REASONABLE PRECAUTIONS, VISITORS SHOULD ENJOY AN UNEVENTFUL STAY. HOWEVER, PURSE SNATCHING AND PICK POCKETING BY PROFESSIONAL THIEVES IS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY. IN BRUSSELS, PICK POCKETING AND PURSE SNATCHING ARE PREVALENT IN THE METRO SYSTEM, (SUBWAY, BUS, TRAM), AND AT BRUSSELS' THREE MAJOR TRAIN STATIONS, THE GARE DU NORD (NORTH STATION), GARE CENTRALE (CENTRAL STATION) AND ESPECIALLY THE GARE DU MIDI (SOUTH STATION). EXTRA CAUTION SHOULD BE USED AT THE GARE DU MIDI STATION. VICTIMS HAVE BEEN ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE BY SOMEONE WHO APPEARED LOST AND ANXIOUS TO CATCH THEIR TRAIN OR OTHERWISE DISTRACTED BY A FIRST CRIMINAL. AS THE VICTIM RESPONDS TO THE REQUEST, A SECOND PERSON STEALS LAPTOP COMPUTERS, BAGS, AND OTHER ITEMS. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE, THIS IS A NEW STRATEGY BY CRIMINAL GANGS OPERATING AT CENTRAL STATION. APPARENTLY THEY PREFER PLATFORMS 3 AND 4, USED BY TRAINS GOING TO THE AIRPORT AND OBVIOUSLY CARRYING THE BEST CATEGORY OF POTENTIAL VICTIMS. 5. VALUABLES SHOULD NEVER BE LEFT UNATTENDED IN VEHICLES AND CAR DOORS SHOULD ALWAYS BE KEPT LOCKED WHEN DRIVING. CARRY ONLY A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF CASH, CREDIT CARDS, AND ID. EXPENSIVE JEWELRY, FINANCIAL RECORDS, ADDRESS BOOKS, AND OTHER PERSONAL EFFECTS SHOULD BE LEFT AT HOME OR STORED IN A SAFE PLACE DURING YOUR VISIT. THE EMERGENCY NUMBERS FOR THE POLICE AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE ARE 101 AND 100 RESPECTIVELY AND FOR CELLULAR PHONES (LOCALLY) 112. VISITORS TO BELGIUM REQUIRING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT THE BRUSSELS REGIONAL SECURITY OFFICE AT 322-508-2370. 6. COMPUTER AND ELECTRONICS USAGE: INTER-AGENCY SECURITY STANDARDS PROHIBIT THE INTRODUCTION OR USE OF NON-USG OWNED COMPUTER HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE AT ALL USG DIPLOMATIC FACILITIES. CELL PHONES, PALM PILOTS, RADIOS AND OTHER CONVENIENCE ELECTRONICS ARE PROHIBITED IN ALL SECURE AREAS OF THE MISSION. TRAVELERS WHO ANTICIPATE HAVING SPECIAL NEEDS IN TERMS OF EITHER ACCESS OR COMPUTER USAGE SHOULD CONTACT THE RSO OFFICE BEFORE ARRIVING AT POST. 7. SYSTEMS ACCESS: IF YOU ARE A DOS EMPLOYEE AND WOULD LIKE TO ACCESS OPENNET DURING YOUR VISIT (WITHOUT TAKING THE 30 MINUTE SYSTEMS SECURITY BRIEFING), PLEASE BRING CONFIRMATION THAT YOU HAVE ATTENDED WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, THE "SECURITY AWARENESS BRIEFING ON OPENNET PLUS". THIS CAN BE A COPY OF THE FORM YOU SIGNED WHEN YOU TOOK THE BRIEFING, A SIGNED MEMORANDUM FROM YOUR SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR OR ISSO, OR AN BRUSSELS 00000494 002 OF 002 E-MAIL MESSAGE FROM YOUR SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR OR ISSO TO "EMBASSY BRUSSELS E-MAIL-DL" ISC OFFICE BRUSSELS. 8. ACTION REQUEST: FISCAL DATA. EACH VISITOR, REGARDLESS OF LENGTH OF STAY, MUST BRING/FORWARD FISCAL DATA TO PAY FOR DIRECT COSTS OF THE VISIT. EACH AGENCY, ORGANIZATION OR VISITING DELEGATION WILL BE CHARGED FOR THE ACTUAL COST ATTRIBUTED TO ITS VISIT. DIRECT CHARGE COSTS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: AMERICAN AND LES OVERTIME (FOR SUCH SERVICES AS AIRPORT EXPEDITING, CASHIER ACCOMMODATION EXCHANGE, CONTROL ROOM STAFFING, REPRESENTATIONAL EVENT SUPPORT), TRAVEL AND PER DIEM COSTS INCURRED BY POST PERSONNEL IN SUPPORT OF VISITOR'S FIELD TRAVEL, RENTAL OF VEHICLES AND OTHER EQUIPMENT, LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE CALLS, OFFICE SUPPLIES, GASOLINE AND OTHER VEHICLE MAINTENANCE COSTS, DEPARTURE TAX AND OTHER AIRPORT FEES AS APPROPRIATE. FOR TDYERS REMAINING AT POST FOR OVER 30 DYS, THERE IS A CHARGE FOR ICASS SUPPORT SERVICS. THIS CHARGE IS FOR THE FOLLOWING ICASS SERVICES: BASIC PACKAGE, CLO AND HEALTH SERVICES. AGENCIES WILL NOT BE BILLED UNTIL THE ACCUMULTED INVOICE COST FOR TDY SUPPORT EXCEEDS $2,500 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR. IF YOUR SPONSORING AGENCY IS NOT SIGNED UP FOR ICASS SERVICES AT POST, PLEASE BE PREPARED TO SIGN A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR ICASS SUPPORT SERVICES UPON ARRIVAL. THE AGENCY SHOULD PROVIDE POST WITH A WRITTEN COMMUNICATION, GENERATED BY THE TRAVELER'S HEADQUARTERS, THAT CONFIRMS THE AGENCY WILL PAY ICASS CHARGES FOR THE TDYER, PROVIDES THE AGENCY ICASS BILLING CODE, THE TDY SUPPORT CHARGES SHOULD BE APPLIED TO, AND AUTHORIZES THE TRAVELER TO SIGN THE ICASS INVOICE GENERATED BY THE TDY MODULE. WHERE TRAVEL IS URGENT, THE TDYER SHOULD BRING THIS DOCUMENTATION WITH HIM/HER TO ENSURE THERE ARE NO INTERRUPTIONS IN THE PROVISION OF SERVICE. POST WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY SERVICE TO A TDYER STAYING IN EXCESS OF 30 DAYS WITHOUT PROVISION OF THIS DOCUMENTATION BEFORE DAY 31 OF THE TDY. GRAY . |