WELCOME CABLE FOR CODEL LEVIN (SEPT 3-4, 2009)

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000884

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA AMGT ASEC AFIN KU
SUBJECT: WELCOME CABLE FOR CODEL LEVIN (SEPT 3-4, 2009)


1. Embassy Kuwait welcomes CODEL Levin to travel to post September
3-4, 2009.


2. Visit Officer: An Embassy visit officer and a driver/expeditor
will meet and assist you at the airport.

Embassy point of contact is:


Kristina Weiss, ISU Liaison
Office- (965) 2259-1170
Cell- (965) 9985-1697
Fax- (965) 2259-1190
Unclass e-mail: WeissKA@state.gov


3. Holy Month of Ramadan: Your visit takes place during the Holy
Month of Ramadan, which will be observed from approximately August
22 to September 20, 2009. It is against the law in Kuwait for
anyone to eat, drink or smoke in public, including inside vehicles,
between the hours of sunrise and sunset. Business slows down for
this month and government offices, as well as many private
businesses, work shorter hours. Muslims will work a full day
without even a sip of water. This results in people becoming tired,
tense, and easily irritated during the normal workday, especially
during the later weeks of Ramadan. One must be extra alert when
driving, particularly during the late afternoon, when many will be
rushing home to break the fast.


4. Following is post's standard guidance for visitors to Kuwait:

a. Entry Requirements: Kuwait now issues single-entry visas to
American citizens on arrival, upon presentation of a valid passport.
There is a processing fee of three (3) Kuwaiti Dinar (KD 3.000, or
approximately USD 15.00) for each visa issued. The fee may be paid
either in KD or USD. Post strongly advises travelers to carry some
documentation concerning the purpose of their visit. Passengers
arriving on U.S. military flights should anticipate extra delays
because immigration services are not available on the military side
of the airfield and passports have to be carried to a different
location at the airport for processing. Please allow four hours for
passport processing when arriving by milair. Airport visas are
valid for 90 days after arrival; anyone staying beyond this period
must obtain an extension, which should be requested 2 weeks prior to
visa expiration. Anyone departing Kuwait who has overstayed the
visa will be charged a fine of KD 10.000 (US 36.00) per day at the
airport. All travelers planning to visit Iraq should make sure that
they obtain the required exit/entry stamps for each transit through
Kuwait, and be aware that they will need to obtain a new Kuwaiti
visa upon return, even after a daytrip to Baghdad. Failure to do so
can result in heavy fines. If possible, travelers should try to
obtain a multiple-entry visa before arriving in Kuwait.

b. Visitors are reminded that the importation of alcohol, pork
products, personal firearms, and any suggestive/pornographic
materials (videotapes, magazines or books) is strictly prohibited by
Kuwaiti law. Visitors are strictly enjoined from bringing in any
such items, even in checked luggage or carry-on baggage, as the
consequences can be severe. Kuwait is still clearing mines and
munitions. Visitors must remain on major paved roads when traveling
in Kuwait. Travel north of Jahra toward the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border is
not authorized without approval from the embassy and an appropriate
escort.

c. Embassy Kuwait's normal workweek is Sunday through Thursday,
and office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The time difference
with the East Coast of the United States is EDT plus seven hours.
The embassy switchboard number is (965) 2259-1001, and the IVG
number is 4950000. The after-hours number, that rings at Marine
Guard Post One, is (965) 2538-2098. The mission duty officer can be
reached through the embassy switchboard, Post One or by cell phone
at (965) 9967-7265. The embassy pouch address is 6200 Kuwait Place,
Dulles, VA 20189-6200.

d. Threat Assessment: Kuwait is a high-threat post and the
military threatcon is currently Charlie. We have increased security
precautions at official U.S. installations in Kuwait and recommend
that all Americans in Kuwait remain alert to their surroundings and
review their personal security practices.

e. Health Advisory for Kuwait: April through October is the hot
season in Kuwait. Temperatures reach 120-140 degrees F in summer.
Caution should be taken to prevent dehydration and heat exhaustion
by 1) drinking plenty of fluids and 2) staying indoors, especially
during peak temperature hours of noon to 4:00 PM. Low humidity
coupled with high temperatures creates excessive moisture loss from
evaporation. It is necessary to drink 2-4 quarts of water daily to
prevent dehydration.

f. Money: Credit cards are widely accepted at hotels,
restaurants and other establishments throughout Kuwait and ATM
machines are also readily available. For travelers on official
orders, the Commercial Bank of Kuwait can provide accommodation

services (cashing a personal check drawn on a U.S. bank into local
currency) up to a maximum of USD 300.00 per day from noon to 2:00
p.m., Saturday through Wednesday. At the current rate of exchange,
one Kuwaiti Dinar (KD) is equivalent to approximately USD 3.60.

g. CAA Access: Visitors who need unescorted access into secure
areas of the mission must slug cables to the attention of the RSO,
and include the level of their clearance. The cable should include
the visitor's Social Security number, and the name of the agency
granting the clearance. Cables should include the ASEC tag to
ensure distribution to the RSO office and the Marine Security guard
at Post One.

h. Computer and Electronics Usage: Sensitive military information
has been discovered recently on business center computers at local
hotels in Kuwait City. All U.S. government personnel and
contractors must remember that it is their responsibility to observe
good computer and information security practices. Information
processed on computers in hotel business centers, through email
correspondence or document creation, is highly exploitable. Public
computers located in hotel business centers, internet cafes, airport
lounges, etc. should never be used to process, store or disseminate
sensitive information. Compromise of sensitive government or
military information can result in serious damage to national
security. Compromises of sensitive personal data can result in
significant personal and financial hardship. Random checks are
conducted by Embassy personnel on public PC's. Breaches on COMPUSEC
will result in the violator receiving security infractions and/or
security violations. Interagency 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.

i. Photography: Tourist photography is encouraged in Kuwait.
However, it is strictly forbidden to photograph public buildings,
economic infrastructure (e.g., oil facilities),or military and
other security-related facilities and personnel. Confiscation of
film and camera and even arrest may result from doing so. A good
rule of thumb: If there is any doubt as to whether a photograph
should be taken, don't take it.

j. Action Request: Each visitor, regardless of length of stay,
must bring or forward fiscal data to pay for direct costs of the
visit. Each agency, organization or visiting delegation will be
charged for the actual costs attributed to their visit. Direct
charge costs include, but are not limited to: American and LES
staff overtime (e.g., expeditor, accommodation exchange,
representational event support),field travel, lodging and meals and
incidental expenses (M&IE) by embassy employees, vehicle rentals,
long-distance telephone calls, equipment rentals, office supplies
and all other costs that are directly attributable to the visit. If
fiscal data on a traveler's authorization is to be used for this
purpose, this information must be spelled out in the travel orders
and sufficient funding provided to meet these expenses. In
addition, for TDYers over thirty (30) days, there will be a charge
for ICASS support services. If your sponsoring agency is not signed
up for ICASS services at post, please be prepared to sign an ICASS
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for ICASS support services upon
arrival. The agency should provide post with written communication,
generated by the traveler's headquarters, that confirms the agency
will pay ICASS charges for the TDYer, provide the agency ICASS
billing code for the TDY support to be provided, and authorize the
traveler to sign the ICASS invoice generated by the TDY module.
When travel is urgent, TDYers should bring this document with them
to ensure there are no interruptions in the provision of services.
Post will not provide any services to a TDYer staying in excess of
30 days without having received this documentation prior to day 31
of the TDY.


********************************************* **********
Visit Kuwait's Classified and Unclassified Websites at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ and http://kuwait.state.gov/

********************************************* **********

Jones