MULTIPLE ENTRY VISAS FOR LIBYANS IN INTERNATIONAL

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000717 SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/UNP, CA/VO AND NEA/FO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OFDP CVIS PREL AU UN SUBJECT: MULTIPLE ENTRY VISAS FOR LIBYANS IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS ¶1. USUN has received a note verbale from the African Union Observer Mission to the UN requesting a Libyan employee of that office be granted a multiple entry visa instead of the single entry visa given to Libyan G-4 applicants as mandated by the reciprocity schedule. (Text of AU note appears in paragraph 2 below.) This note follows a similar request from Saadun Suayeh, a UN staff member of Libyan nationality who reported to USUN in April 2008 that he had approached NEA PDAS Feltman on the same issue. USUN has been unable to explain to the IOs involved why Libyans G1 applicants get multiple entry visas valid for 12 months, while G4 applicants are limited to single entries. The sponsoring organizations emphasize that single entry visas make it difficult for the employees to discharge their official functions. USUN requests that the Department explore the possibility of amending the reciprocity schedule to permit issuance of multiple entry visas. ¶2. Begin text of July 14 note from the African Union Observer Mission; (complimentary salutation)... and wishes to make a special case as regards issuance of G4 visa multiple entries (sic) for the benefit of Mr. Saleem Matug, Special Adviser (Political Affairs) at the Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the UN. Mr. Matug a Libyan national, holder of regular passport number 795304 is called upon to travel frequently and attends Heads of State and of Government Assemblies to the African Continent and to other meetings in Africa in different places. In order to facilitate his movement and therefore in carrying out efficiently the duties assigned to him, the Permanent Observer Mission wishes to request that Mr. Salem Matug be exceptionally issued with G4 multiple entry visas (sic). (Complimentary close) End text. RICE