WELCOME TO ALBANIA

UNCLAS TIRANA 000179 Note - PII Data Removed E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: APER AFIN AL SUBJECT: WELCOME TO ALBANIA Ref: STATE 26645 ¶1. WELCOME Congratulations on your assignment to Tirana, Albania. The American Embassy community of Tirana welcomes you in advance and looks forward to your arrival. We are confident that you will find Tirana and the Embassy a rewarding place to live and work. To help us keep in touch with you while you are traveling between assignments, please provide the A/Management Officer, Lisa Ficek, with your Agency and personal email address, phone numbers and mailing address so we can keep you informed of sponsors and other events here. Please keep us up-to-date on your travel plans including: date, time, flight number, airline, the number of persons, any pets accompanying you and approximate amount of luggage you are carrying so a large enough vehicle is provided. To assist you in planning your transfer, we offer the following information. For additional information, please visit Embassy Tirana's Intranet webpage at http://tirana.state.gov/ ¶2. INDEX ¶1. Welcome ¶2. Index ¶3. Housing ¶4. Household Furnishings ¶5. Electrical and Electronic Equipment ¶6. Internet and Television Broadcasting ¶7. Hospitality kits ¶8. Clothing Considerations ¶9. Vehicles ¶10. Health ¶11. Currency ¶12. Recreation ¶13. General Shopping ¶14. Pets ¶15. Mail/Pouch ¶16. Transferring Email Accounts ¶17. General Shipping Instructions ¶18. Shipping instructions for HHE and Consumables ¶19. Shipping Instructions for UAB ¶20. Passports and Visas ¶21. Sponsorship Program ¶22. Additional Information ¶23. Management Section Contacts ¶3. HOUSING Embassy furnished housing is split between the Rilindja Ridge Housing compound, a U.S. Government-owned housing compound of duplexes located on the outskirts of downtown Tirana, and apartments or villas in the downtown area. The latter are conveniently located near shops, restaurants, dance clubs, museums and movie theaters. Villas in town are generally large and spacious with ceramic and wood parquet floors. Most villas and apartments lack closets, so wardrobes are provided. Yards around villas tend to be small and parking often limited to one vehicle in the villa's walled compound. The walled housing compound, which looks like suburban America, has a playground, fitness center, tennis court and a swimming pool. Almost all housing, whether government-owned or leased, is located within five miles of the chancery, and many apartments are within easy walking distance to the Embassy. Because of the frequent utility outages in Albania, Embassy residences are equipped with generators and reserve water tanks. These backup systems help ensure that heat, cooling, light, water and security alarms work 24/7. A note of caution, electrical surges and brownouts do occur and occupants should bring surge protectors and UPS for their computers and entertainment systems. The Interagency Housing Board assigns all housing. Please email the GSO with information on your family size and composition, pets, and any health related problems or concerns, (such as allergies, difficulty managing stairs, etc.). Your input will assist the GSO and housing board in trying to match officers' housing requests with dwellings. ¶4. HOUSEHOLD FURNISHINGS Most homes include U.S. Government provided American furniture for living room, dining room, and bedrooms and the following appliances - refrigerator, oven/stove, washer, dryer, microwave, vacuum cleaner, and in some cases dishwasher and ceiling fans. In some apartment/villas, the landlords provide some furniture and appliances. AFN decoders are provided for most houses, please check with your agency. Employees with large collections of books or bric-a-brac may want to bring their own bookcases. Contact the General Services Office IVG 970-3369 or email FicekLL@State.gov if you have questions about the furnishings in your assigned residence. Please note that Tirana is a limited shipment post. Post does not have storage facilities for employees' personal effects. ¶5. ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT Albania uses 220 volt, 50-cycle electricity. State Personnel receive two transformers. Employees of other agencies should check with their agency at post. Remember that a transformer changes the voltage but not the cycles and cycles may control clock speeds for alarm clocks, microwave ovens, answering machines, etc. Some 110 volt 60 HZ equipment with timers may not function properly. If you plan to operate a lot of 110v equipment, you should consider bringing additional transformers or be prepared to purchase them locally. If you plan to ship a computer, it is recommended that you also ship a 220-volt UPS and surge protector. Albania experiences severe power fluctuations and disruptions, especially during the winter months. You may also purchase an UPS locally for prices higher than those in the U.S. ¶6. COMMUNICATION - INTERNET, TV AND RADIO Residential dial-up Internet service, available locally, tends to be slow, but personal e-mail, on-line banking, and shopping are possible. Several Internet providers offer "high-speed" connections (DSL). Prices for these services vary depending upon your needs and the availability of coverage within your neighborhood. Employees assigned to Ridge Housing may request access to a high-speed Internet line for which they will be billed. Please note that residential Internet service is a personal contractual responsibility of the employee. The Embassy has two common use Internet terminals in the CLO office that officers and their families may use at any time. Albanian TV operates on the PAL system. Some employees have purchased and installed personal satellite TV systems including decoder, satellite dish, and connecting cables. A local antenna, which costs around 20.00 USD, can receive several Albanian channels. Tirana also has several radio stations that play a mix of oldies and today's hits. ¶7. HOSPITALITY KITS A hospitality kit will be provided until your airfreight arrives. This kit contains basic household items such as linens, pots and pans, kitchen utensils, plates, glasses, flatware, shower curtain, ironing board and iron. The hospitality kit should be returned clean soon after you receive your airfreight. Therefore, be sure to include all of these basic items in your airfreight. Upon request, GSO can provide a more detailed list of recommended items to include in your airfreight. ¶8. CLOTHING CONSIDERATIONS Pack a sufficient range of clothing in your suitcase and UAB to cover the potential for cooler weather in the fall and winter months. Depending on shipping dates from your previous post, HHE can take several months to arrive. Tirana enjoys four seasons but they are generally mild. Summer temperatures can reach the low 100s at midday, winter temperatures can drop below freezing at night. ¶9. VEHICLES There are no restrictions on the type of personally owned vehicle (POV) you can import into Albania. The Government of Albania permits an employee with diplomatic status to import duty-free or purchase locally tax-free one vehicle. When a spouse accompanies an employee with diplomatic status, the spouse can import duty free or buy locally tax-free a vehicle, which will be registered under the spouse's name. If you ship a vehicle to post, you must bring the original title to register the vehicle. "E-titles" are not accepted, unless a notary from the state where the vehicle title was issued notarizes the E-title. The Albanian Government will not accept an E-title notarized by the Embassy's consular section. If you need additional information with respect to shipping, registering, and operating a POV in Tirana, please contact the General Services Officer. Third-party liability insurance is mandatory and must be obtained through a local insurance firm before your vehicle can be registered. Information on third-party liability insurance companies is available in the Customs and Shipping Office once you arrive at Post. Most employees purchase collision and comprehension coverage in the United States. One such company that provides service overseas is Clements (www.clements.com). There may be other insurance companies that provide comparable services. Be sure your policy includes transit to Post as well as in-country coverage. ¶10. HEALTH Post's on-site Medical Officer is Jill Barnes, Foreign Service Health Practitioner. Post's Regional Medical Officer and Regional Psychiatrist are located in Vienna. Local health care services are poor. If you are a member of ICASS and have a medical clearance, you are eligible for care in the Health Unit. It is strongly recommended that you bring a good supply of your frequently used over-the-counter and prescription drugs and vitamins. Aerosols or liquid that are medically related are the only such items that may be shipped in the pouch. Very few over-the-counter drugs common to the U.S. are available in Tirana. The following immunizations are strongly recommended: hepatitis A and B, tetanus, diphtheria, and typhoid. Tick Bourne Encephalitis (TBE) vaccine is recommended for those who plan to spend a lot of time outside in grassy/wooded areas. Dental services are available but with varying degrees of capabilities and equipment. We strongly recommend you complete your dental care before coming to post. Due to the dust in the summer months, Tirana is a high-risk area for allergy and asthma patients. If you already suffer from respiratory illnesses, be prepared to cope with the increased discomfort. We strongly suggest you review your private health insurance plan before arrival to ensure it is appropriate for the overseas environment. Bring copies of your insurance claim forms and card, your most recent medical clearance form (DS-823) and your immunization record. Have all your contact numbers and addresses readily available in case the need arises. If you have prescription coverage and regular prescription needs, please carefully review that aspect of your insurance coverage prior to your departure. ¶11. Currency Tirana is a cash based economy. It is possible to change U.S. Dollars to the Albanian Lek five days a week at the American Bank of Albania branch located on Embassy grounds. Electronic cash machines (ATM) are widely available in Tirana; one is located on the Embassy grounds. Shops, airlines, restaurants and most hotels generally do not accept credit cards. ¶12. RECREATION The American Embassy Recreation Association (AERA) plans fun events and manages a fitness center and swimming pool, both located on the Embassy housing compound. The AERA does not operate or plan to open a commissary. There are limited recreational facilities available in Tirana - the city operates a couple of public swimming pools and the Ambassador's residence has a tennis court. Opera and classical concerts are popular here, but performances are limited. A number of dance clubs offer live music entertainment. The beaches, which are an hour or two drive from Tirana, can be crowded but do offer a weekend getaway. Many Americans participate in the Hash House Harriers' weekly run/walk events. ¶13. GENERAL SHOPPING Availability of food items in Albania is improving. Most processed food items are imported from Italy and Greece. Many American foods are not available and of those for sale, your favorite brand may be hard to find. Many officers order consumables through a military commissary and ELSO after their arrival at Post. Good quality produce is available in the many outdoor farmers' markets scattered throughout the city, though local fruits and vegetables are available in season. Local shops carry a wide variety of products, but it is suggested that you bring sufficient shoes and clothing with you because selections and styles are limited and quality varies. ¶14. PETS Dogs and cats are not subject to quarantine, but should have all shots up-to-date at least 30 days prior to departure. An international health certificate showing rabies and distemper vaccinations is not required but is recommended. If you plan to ship exotic pets please check with the GSO. Grocery stores stock basic dog and cat food and many also carry some European brands of kitty litter. Please indicate to GSO whether or not you intend to bring a pet to post and confirm your pet status in your subsequent arrival cables. There are at least two English-speaking veterinarians in Tirana. ¶15. MAIL/POUCH Diplomatic Pouch for personal mail services is available to Mission employees. Usage restrictions are described below. The embassy pouch address is: Your Name> 9510 Tirana Place Dulles, VA 20189-9510 Mail being sent to Tirana from the U.S. by pouch is subject to size and weight restrictions and is received twice a week. Parcels may not exceed 17 inches X 18 inches X 30 inches in any dimension and must not weigh more than 45 pounds. A Xerox size paper box or the largest box currently on sale by the USPS is the biggest size box the pouch system will accept. Prohibited items include liquids (other than pharmaceuticals),aerosols, alcoholic beverages, perishable items, ammunition and other things not allowed in the USPS. Pouches are routinely x-rayed and boxes returned to sender if they contain prohibited items. Outgoing mail is restricted to a package the size of video cassette tape and flat envelopes, not to exceed two pounds. An exception is that merchandise delivered through the pouch may be returned to the vendor. Allow at least two weeks, three weeks to be safe, for delivery of a letter to the U.S. through the diplomatic pouch. It is against regulations to ship all or part of your HHE, UAB and consumables via the pouch. Abuse of pouch privileges could result in an employee receiving a bill for the cost of the airfreight of those items. ¶16. TRANSFERRING EMAIL ACCOUNTS Holders of Department OpenNet and ClassNet e-mail accounts should consult 06 STATE 131394 for specific instructions on how to prepare and handle the transfer of existing accounts to Tirana. US Embassy Tirana uses Active Directory with Exchange 2003; please provide this information to the system administrators of your most recent post. In an effort to ensure that users do not experience long delays in reclaiming e-mail accounts upon transfer, a departing employee should contact the Systems Administrator (Class and Unclass) for account transfer procedures. Good communication and prompt action on your part will ensure that the e-mail directory remains clean and accurate and that you will not experience a long delay in reclaiming your e-mail accounts upon reporting to duty. ¶17. GENERAL SHIPPING INSTRUCTIONS All personal effects shipments (UAB, HHE, POV and Consumables) should be timed to arrive after the employee's arrival to post. Personal effects shipments cannot be cleared through customs in advance of employee's arrival. Shipping documents, copies of all inventories, airway bills, and bills-of-lading should be faxed at the earliest opportunity to American Embassy Tirana 355-4-232-222. Send the original to attn.: GSO Shipping, Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Washington D.C. 20521-9510 or by courier to GSO Shipping, American Embassy Tirana, Rruga Elbasanit 103, Tirana, Albania. Please put employee's complete name on all papers. Additional copies should be hand-carried by employee. ¶18. SHIPPING INSTRUCTIONS FOR HHE AND CONSUMABLES ¶A. There is no limitation on size or weight of shipping containers. For Department of State personnel your HHE shipment is limited to 7,200 lbs. per employee and the consumable shipment is limited to 2,500 Lbs. If you are assigned to another agency please verify your allowances with your agency. ¶B. HHE should be routed through port of discharge Antwerp, Belgium, for - ELSO. Military shipping routes vary. ¶C. Marking instructions: Name of employee, American Embassy Tirana, Albania For forwarding to: American Embassy Tirana Rruga e Elbasanit, 103 Tirana, Albania (Employee's first, middle, and last name) ¶D. HHE should be always routed through ELSO, Antwerp. ¶E. Consignee to be designated on ocean bill-of-lading: ELSO Antwerp ¶19. SHIPPING INSTRUCTIONS FOR UAB ¶A. For Department of State personnel, your UAB shipment is limited to: 250 lbs. for the first person traveling, 200 lbs. for the second person traveling, 150 lbs. for the third person traveling and 100 lbs. for each additional person traveling. ¶B. Marking instructions to be placed on containers: (Employee's first, middle and last name) U.S. Embassy Tirana / office symbol Rruga e Elbasanit, 103 Tirana, Albania ¶C. UAB should be routed to Tirana International Airport (Rinas). ¶20. PASSPORTS AND VISAS American Officials assigned to the U.S. Mission to Albania and their family members must obtain Albanian diplomatic entry visas from an Albanian Mission abroad prior to coming to Albania. Failure to obtain a diplomatic entry visa before arriving in Albania will cause long delays in obtaining diplomatic identification cards and clearing household effects and personal vehicles through Customs. You should visit the Management Office on the first workday after your arrival to complete forms for your diplomatic identification card and obtain the arrival check-in sheet. This sheet includes the offices that will assist you in smoothly settling into Tirana. Please hand-carry the following items to post: ¶1. Minimum of six ID photos, size 1" x 1", for each member of your family. ¶2. All documents (inventories, GBL, AWB, etc.) concerning your HHE, UAB, vehicle, and consumable shipments. ¶3. Your State Department ID Badge ¶21. SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM We have an active sponsorship program to assist you in your transition to Albania. The Community Liaison Officer will contact you with information on your sponsor, life in Albania and the diplomatic community. Your sponsor and/or your section will meet you at the airport and introduce you to your new surroundings. ¶22. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The CLO will send you additional information via e-mail. After reading this cable, the CLO material and the Post Report, if you have questions please contact the appropriate person on the management team below, your sponsor, or your future supervisor. We wish you a warm welcome to Tirana. ¶23. MANAGEMENT SECTION CONTACTS U.S. Embassy Tirana - Switchboard tel: 355-4-224-7285) fax: 355-4-223-2222 Local Address: Rruga e Elbasanit 103 Tirana, Albania A/Management Officer/GSO: Lisa Ficek email: FicekLL@State.gov tel: 355-4-247-285, ext. 3369 IVG: 970-3369 cell phone: 355-068-206-8203 Shipping: Agron Brahja email: brahjaa@state.gov tel: 355-4-224-7285, ext 3188 IVG: 970-3188 cell phone: 355-068-405-1221 CLO: Nora Zajazi email: CLOtirana@state.gov tel: 355-4-224-7285, ext 3072 IVG: 970-3072 cell phone: 355-068-602-3357 IMO: Randal Meyers email: meyersr@state.gov tel: 355-4-224-7285, ext 3040 IVG: 970-3040 cell phone: 355-068-403-9089 Health: Jill Barnes tel: 355-4-224-7285, ext 3549 IVG: 970-3549 cell phone: 355-068-602-3356 WITHERS