COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR VISIT BY KAMAL BEYOGHLOW

UNCLAS NICOSIA 000281 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMGT CY OTRA SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR VISIT BY KAMAL BEYOGHLOW REF: EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE ON 6 MAY 2008 ¶1. COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR THE VISIT OF MR. KAMAL BEYOGHLOW, PROFESSOR AT US NATIONAL WAR COLLEGE TO TRAVEL TO CYPRUS ON MAY 26 - 28, AS STATED IN REFTEL. CONTACT OFFICER IS POLITICAL CHIEF, GREG MACRIS; OFFICE: 357-22-393524, FAX: 357-22-393467, MOBILE: 357-99-424355, E-MAIL: MACRISGP@STATE.GOV. ¶2. THE EMBASSY HAS CONFIRMED NO ASSISTANCE NECESSARY FOR HOTEL RESERVATIONS OR AIRPORT PICKUP. THE LOCAL EXCHANGE RATE IS APPROXIMATELY 1 US DOLLAR = .68 EURO. ¶3. IN ACCORDANCE WITH POST TRANSPORTATION POLICY, VISITORS SHOULD TAKE A TAXI FROM LARNACA AIRPORT TO NICOSIA AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY 35 EUROS. AIRPORT TAXIS HAVE METERS. BOTH TAXIS AND EXCHANGE FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE AT LARNACA AIRPORT. ¶4. AS NOTED IN THE OCTOBER 11, 2006 DEPARTMENT OF STATE WORLDWIDE CAUTION PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT, AMERICAN CITIZENS TRAVELING ANYWHERE, INCLUDING CYPRUS, ARE REMINDED TO MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF VIGILANCE. VISITORS SHOULD KEEP A LOW PROFILE, BE ALERT TO ANY SIGNS OF SURVEILLANCE, VARY ROUTES AND TIMES FOR REQUIRED TRAVEL AND TREAT ALL MAIL FROM UNFAMILIAR SOURCES WITH SUSPICION. SUSPICIOUS INCIDENTS OR ACTIVITY MUST BE REPORTED TO THE RSO IMMEDIATELY. ¶5. CYPRUS IS CONSIDERED A HIGH-THREAT POST WITH A LOW CRIME RATE. IT HAS GOOD HYGIENIC CONDITIONS AND A FINE ARRAY OF GOODS AND SERVICES. AMERICANS TRAVELING TO CYPRUS ON A TDY BASIS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO OBTAIN ENTRY VISAS. THE HOST GOVERNMENT HAS DESIGNATED LARNACA AND PAPHOS AIRPORTS AS AUTHORIZED POINTS OF ENTRY INTO THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS; USG TRAVELERS CONSIDERING ARRIVAL VIA OTHER PORTS MUST CONSULT THE EMBASSY BEFORE MAKING THEIR ARRANGEMENTS. VISITORS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE RATES FROM CYPRUS, ESPECIALLY FROM HOTELS, ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. ENGLISH IS WIDELY SPOKEN AND UNDERSTOOD. ZIMMERMAN SCHLICHER