CODEL BERKLEY TO VISIT LJUBLJANA MAY 23 - 26

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000226 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR H E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OREP AMGT ASEC AFIN SI SUBJECT: CODEL BERKLEY TO VISIT LJUBLJANA MAY 23 - 26 REF: STATE 52574 ¶1. Post warmly welcomes the May 23-26 visit of Codel Berkley to Ljubljana. Overall control officer for the visit is Political-Economic Officer Albert Kraaimoore, office phone: (386) 1-200-5676, cellphone: (386) 40-516-021, fax: (386) 1-200-5529. The management control officer is Brendan Burns, office phone: (386) 1-200-5622, cellphone: (386) 40-508-744. ¶2. Accommodations for members of Congress, their spouses, staff members, and the military escorts have been reserved at Grand Hotel Union, Miklosiceva cesta 1, 1000 Ljubljana, tel. (386) 1-308-1270, fax (386) 1-308-1015. A control room and hospitality room will be set up in the Grand Hotel Union. Embassy Ljubljana is located at Presernova cesta 31. Telephone: (386) 1-200-5556. Workweek is Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Embassy will be closed for the Memorial Day holiday on May 26. Website: http://slovenia.usembassy.gov. ¶3. A schedule has been transmitted directly to Codel participants and Department via e-mail. Security/Threat Assessment -------------- ¶4. Slovenia's overall crime rate is low and violent crimes involving U.S. personnel and tourists are relatively uncommon. Most crimes tend to be non-violent and directed towards obtaining property such as purse snatching, pickpocketing and residential and vehicle break-ins. There have been smash-and-grab incidents against vehicles parked at local shopping centers, as well as incidents of purse snatching and pickpockets, usually at night outside of bars and the train station. Visitors should avoid carrying large amounts of cash and jewelry on their person and are urged to secure valuables in safe deposit boxes available at most hotels. Visitors should take normal security precautions and are requested to report any incidents or suspected surveillance of themselves or U.S. facilities to the Regional Security Office. The threat from intelligence services remains viable, and official visitors should take appropriate measures to protect classified or sensitive conversations and documents. Conversations on non-secure lines and cell phones should be considered subject to compromise. Visa Requirements -------------- ¶5. Slovenian visas are not required for TDY stays of less than 90 days for American citizen holders of diplomatic, official or tourist passports. For further information regarding travel in Slovenia, consult the Department of State's Consular Information Sheet. http://www.travel.state.gov/slovenia.html Fiscal Data -------------- ¶6. In accordance with Department of State policy, post will directly charge each agency, organization or visiting delegation for the actual costs attributed to its visit (reftel). These costs include, but are not limited to, American and Locally Engaged Staff overtime; field travel by Embassy employees; transportation costs for official vehicles; rental of vehicles, cellular phones, and office equipment; charges for control rooms and office space; and the cost of representational events. COLEMAN