Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE15096
2009-02-18 22:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
how-toO 182204Z FEB 09 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHFSI/DIR FSINFATC IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA IMMEDIATE 7325 RUCPDOC/ALL USDOC DISTDIR COLLECTIVE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMCSUU/CDRAMC FT BELVOIR VA//AMCMI-SS// IMMEDIATE RUEAHQA/HQ USAF WASHINGTON DC//XOXXI// IMMEDIATE RHMCSUU/HQ AFOSI DOQ ANDREWS AFB MD//IVOA// IMMEDIATE RHMCSUU/FAA NATIONAL HQ WASHINGTON DC//ACI-400// IMMEDIATE RHMCSUU/COMNAVAIRSYSCOM PATUXENT RIVER MD//AIR1031B// IMMEDIATE RHMFIUU/NRC WASHINGTON DC//INFOSEC// IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ2-JIT// IMMEDIATE RUCPCIM/CIM NTDB WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMCSUU/COGARD INTELCOORDCEN WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI IMMEDIATE 5678 INFO RUESBKC/ATO ASIA IMMEDIATE 1819
UNCLAS STATE 015096
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC PTER ASEC ER
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING: ERITREA
UNCLAS STATE 015096
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC PTER ASEC ER
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING: ERITREA
1. The U.S. Department of State continues to warn U.S.
citizens of the risks of travel to Eritrea and recommends
that U.S. citizens defer travel at this time. This
replaces the Travel Warning dated November 15, 2008, and
informs U.S. citizens that the consular section of the
U.S. Embassy in Asmara has re-opened for all American
Citizen Services.
2. The Department of State recommends that U.S. citizens
defer travel to Eritrea because of Eritrean government
restrictions on travel outside the capital city of Asmara
and heightened tensions along Eritrea's borders with
Ethiopia and Djibouti.
3. American citizens considering travel within Eritrea
should be aware of the presence of large numbers of
Eritrean and Ethiopian troops along the Eritrean-Ethiopian
border, and acute political tensions between the two
countries. In March 2008, the Eritrean restrictions on
diesel fuel supplies caused the United Nations Mission in
Ethiopia and Eritrea's detachments to withdraw from the
Temporary Security Zone, leaving no international
observers monitoring the border.
4. Since April 2008, Djiboutian and Eritrean troops have
been deployed along the northeastern border of Djibouti.
The Djiboutian government claims Eritrean troops have
crossed into its territory and on June 10, 2008,
Djiboutian and Eritrean troops exchanged fire along their
shared border.
5. U.S. citizens are strongly advised to avoid travel near
the Eritrean-Ethiopian border and to the Southern Red Sea
region, including the port of Assab.
6. The Eritrean government continues to restrict the
travel of all foreign nationals, including resident
diplomats. These restrictions require all visitors and
residents to apply ten days in advance for permission to
travel outside the Asmara city limits. As a result, the
U.S. Embassy cannot provide emergency consular assistance
outside of Asmara. The Eritrean government does not
inform the U.S. Embassy when American citizens have been
arrested or detained.
7. Americans currently living or traveling in Eritrea are
strongly encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy in
Asmara in person or through the State Department's travel
registration web site,
https://travelregistration.state.gov, and to obtain
updated information on travel and security within
Eritrea. By registering, American citizens make it easier
for the Embassy to contact them in case of an emergency
and provide updates on the security situation. The U.S.
Embassy is located at 179 Alaa Street, P.O. Box 211,
Asmara; telephone (291-1) 12-00-04, available 24 hours in
case of emergency; fax (291-1) 124-255 and (291-1) 127-
584; web site http://asmara.usembassy.gov/
8. For additional information, consult the Department of
State's Country Specific Information sheet for Eritrea and
the Worldwide Caution at http://travel.state.gov
American citizens may also obtain up-to-date information
on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free
in the United States and Canada, or 1-202-501-4444 from
overseas.
9. Minimize considered.
CLINTON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC PTER ASEC ER
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING: ERITREA
1. The U.S. Department of State continues to warn U.S.
citizens of the risks of travel to Eritrea and recommends
that U.S. citizens defer travel at this time. This
replaces the Travel Warning dated November 15, 2008, and
informs U.S. citizens that the consular section of the
U.S. Embassy in Asmara has re-opened for all American
Citizen Services.
2. The Department of State recommends that U.S. citizens
defer travel to Eritrea because of Eritrean government
restrictions on travel outside the capital city of Asmara
and heightened tensions along Eritrea's borders with
Ethiopia and Djibouti.
3. American citizens considering travel within Eritrea
should be aware of the presence of large numbers of
Eritrean and Ethiopian troops along the Eritrean-Ethiopian
border, and acute political tensions between the two
countries. In March 2008, the Eritrean restrictions on
diesel fuel supplies caused the United Nations Mission in
Ethiopia and Eritrea's detachments to withdraw from the
Temporary Security Zone, leaving no international
observers monitoring the border.
4. Since April 2008, Djiboutian and Eritrean troops have
been deployed along the northeastern border of Djibouti.
The Djiboutian government claims Eritrean troops have
crossed into its territory and on June 10, 2008,
Djiboutian and Eritrean troops exchanged fire along their
shared border.
5. U.S. citizens are strongly advised to avoid travel near
the Eritrean-Ethiopian border and to the Southern Red Sea
region, including the port of Assab.
6. The Eritrean government continues to restrict the
travel of all foreign nationals, including resident
diplomats. These restrictions require all visitors and
residents to apply ten days in advance for permission to
travel outside the Asmara city limits. As a result, the
U.S. Embassy cannot provide emergency consular assistance
outside of Asmara. The Eritrean government does not
inform the U.S. Embassy when American citizens have been
arrested or detained.
7. Americans currently living or traveling in Eritrea are
strongly encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy in
Asmara in person or through the State Department's travel
registration web site,
https://travelregistration.state.gov, and to obtain
updated information on travel and security within
Eritrea. By registering, American citizens make it easier
for the Embassy to contact them in case of an emergency
and provide updates on the security situation. The U.S.
Embassy is located at 179 Alaa Street, P.O. Box 211,
Asmara; telephone (291-1) 12-00-04, available 24 hours in
case of emergency; fax (291-1) 124-255 and (291-1) 127-
584; web site http://asmara.usembassy.gov/
8. For additional information, consult the Department of
State's Country Specific Information sheet for Eritrea and
the Worldwide Caution at http://travel.state.gov
American citizens may also obtain up-to-date information
on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free
in the United States and Canada, or 1-202-501-4444 from
overseas.
9. Minimize considered.
CLINTON