CYPRUS: LOGISTICS FOR FEBRUARY 23 IRAQ AND

UNCLAS NICOSIA 000115 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR, S/CT (WORMAN & INGALLS),ANKARA (REYNOLDS),ATHENS (PURCELL),NEA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL ASEC CY SUBJECT: CYPRUS: LOGISTICS FOR FEBRUARY 23 IRAQ AND NEIGHBORS AND FEBRUARY 24 EASTERN MED RSI REVIEWS REF: AMBASSADOR'S FEBRUARY 6 IRAQ AND NEIGHBORS AND EASTERN MED RSI INVITATION LETTERS AND AGENDAS ¶1. (U) Embassy Nicosia, in conjunction with the State Department's Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism (S/CT),is honored to host the February 23 Iraq and Neighbors and the February 24 Eastern Mediterranean Regional Strategic Initiative (RSI) reviews. We will do our best to make your stay with us and the RSI reviews a success. This cable contains logistical information for participants, including lodging and transportation arrangements and conference costs. Ref message provided background on RSI and a brief rollout of the substantive discussion expected at the upcoming review. ¶2. (U) Embassy Nicosia's control officer for the RSI review is Christopher Panico (PanicoCJ@state.sgov.gov; phone 357-22-39-3531/cell 357-99-460836). Points of contact for Iraq and Neighbors are Regional Affairs Officer Elizabeth Ingalls S/CT (email: IngallsEN@state.gov; phone 202-647-0251) and RSI Coordinator Carol Reynolds (ReynoldsCT@state.gov; phone IVG 295-7266). The Eastern Med points of contact are S/CT Patrick Worman (WormanPF@state.gov phone 202-647-9390)and Eastern Mediterranean Regional CT Officer Alan Purcel (PurcellAS@state.gov) Please copy Chris Panico and Embassy Nicosia Political Section Office Manager Anita Aguasvivas (AguasvivasA@state.gov/AguasvivasAM@state.sgov.gov (unclass/class) on all logistics-related email traffic. ¶3. (U) All participants other than DOD must send e-country clearance requests with detailed arrival/departure information to Embassy Nicosia directly, or via S/CT for Embassy Nicosia for interagency participants. We ask that you send eCC requests as soon as possible to facilitate our providing services to participants. DOD members should submit their eCC requests via APACS. ¶4. (U) S/CT will provide funding for the travel expenses of participants from posts, to include the chief of mission or his/her designate, plus one additional representative. Please note that posts should send information on plane and hotel costs to John D. (Dave) Palmer (PalmerLD@state.gov) and Leon Coates (CoatesLD@state.gov) in S/CT in order to receive fund cites to cover these expenses. To cover incidental conference costs, Embassy Nicosia will collect a fee of 75 USD per participant, as was charged at prior RSI reviews. ¶5. (U) Lodging: The Embassy has secured a bloc of hotel rooms at the Hilton Park hotel in Nicosia (tel: 357-22-69-5111, 357-22-69-5209 (fax) at a special room rate of 115 euros per night(approximately 150 USD). The rate includes breakfast and taxes (please note that there are two Hilton-affiliated hotels in Nicosia. The Hilton Park is located on Grivas Digenis Avenue, a short distance from the Embassy). ¶6. (U) Making Hotel Reservations: Each participant, however, must make his own individual reservations by sending the following information to the Hilton Park Hotel by fax/e-mail below if you have not already done so: -Title(Mr., Mrs., Ms.) First and Last name -Email address -Phone and fax numbers -Date/Time of Arrivals and Departures along with Flight details -Credit Card number, Expiration date, and signature (specify if card is: AMEX, VISA, MASTERCARD, or EUROCARD -Accompanying person (if applicable) -Choice of accommodation: (1) Hilton Guest Room Single or (2) Hilton Guest Room Double The Hilton Park is aware of the bloc reservation, please send information to: Elena Dimosthenous/Hilton Park Hotel; fax 357-22-695013; e-mail Elena.Dimosthenous@hilton.com. ¶7. (U) Registration Room: There will be a registration room open at the hotel during peak participant arrival times on February 22nd and 23rd, where you will be able to receive welcome information and pay your $75.00 conference fee. For those arriving at other times, these same services will be provided the morning of both RSIs (February 23 and 24). The registration room will be staffed by Embassy Nicosia staff as well as by Regional S/CT officers. ¶8. (U) Communications during RSI: There will be OpenNet access for participants with active State Department OpenNet accounts on a limited number of computers at the Embassy during working hours. All non-DOS participants will have internet access, again on a limited number of computers. These services will be available in the Embassy 2nd Floor conference room. Classified network access will be problematic. The Embassy recommends that urgent classified communications be sent via classified e-mail to our Executive section OMS at the following address: ValentineMD@state.sgov.gov. The Embassy will also provide a small bank of telephones in the Embassy 2nd Floor conference room for official use during breaks. Again, if there are urgent messages for RSI participants, the Embassy recommends calling the AMB OMS at 357 22 39-3956. ¶9. (U) Visa Requirements for Cyprus and Point of Arrival: Americans traveling to Cyprus on a TDY basis are not required to obtain entry visas, even if traveling on official or diplomatic passports. USG travelers on official orders and/or using diplomatic passports are not allowed to use Ercan Airport in the Turkish Cypriot-administered area. Please only enter in airports in ROC-controlled areas. ¶10. (U) Transportation to/from Airport and Hotel for Ambassadors or Charg d' Affaires, A/S level participants, and military: RSO will provide transport to/from airport and hotel for all Ambassadors/Charg d' Affaires and A/S level participants. DAO will provide transport to/from airport and hotel for all military personnel. Please look for Embassy staff with an "RSI" sign immediately after passport control but before baggage pick-up. We will schedule your departure transportation during the RSI review. ¶11. U) Transportation to/from Airport and Hotel for all other participants: Given limited Post resources, we cannot provide Embassy transport for you. To facilite your travel, however, Embassy staff identified by an "RSI" sign will greet all participants during peak arrival hours on Feb 22nd and 23rd, immediately after passport control but before baggage pick-up to assist you with finding a taxi. Taxis are safe and reliable and cost between 35-50 euro depending on arrival time. Taxis can be ordered at your hotel for departure. ¶12. (U) Ground Transportation in Nicosia: The Embassy will provide a shuttle bus to/from the Hilton Park and the Chancery twice a day (morning and evening) on February 23 and ¶24. We will also provide an additional shuttle bus from the Hilton Park to the Chancery early in the evening on February 23 for Eastern Mediterranean RSI participants to attend the RSI cocktail. A shuttle bus schedule will be included in your registration material, and embassy staff will be in the lobby of the Hilton Park with an "RSI" sign to assist you to the bus during departure. ¶13. (U) Security: Cyprus is considered a high-threat post with a low crime rate. All official travelers to Cyprus are encouraged to review security briefing material available in the Regional Security Office upon arrival at Post. Department of State employees should bring their Global ID and/or Smart Card that will permit full access to the compound. Employees of other agencies and departments should bring their respective USG identification. We expect there will be one UK national in attendance as well. ¶14. (U) General: Hygienic conditions in Cyprus are similar to those in the United States, and a wide array of goods and services are available here. Visitors should be aware that international telephone rates, especially from hotels, are expensive. English is widely spoken and understood on the island. The host government has designated Larnaca and Pafos airports as authorized points of entry into the Republic of Cyprus. Cyprus is a member of the Eurozone. ATMs are readily available throughout the country, and currency exchange is available in major hotels. Urbancic