US embassy cable - 04BRATISLAVA188

UNCLAS  BRATISLAVA 000188 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT  FOR A/LM/PMP/DPM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMGT, ADPM, LO 
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR DIPLOMATIC POST OFFICE 
(DPO) FIELD TEST KICK-OFF 
 
REF: SECSTATE 38963 
 
1.   EMBASSY BRATISLAVA WELCOMES MR. ALEX KIRKPATRICK, 
  MR. TIM KEITZ, MR. ED FRITTS, AND MR. MIKE FRANCIS AND 
  GRANTS COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR THE PERIOD OF MARCH 2 TO 
  MARCH 4, 2004. THE EMBASSY POINT OF CONTACT FOR YOUR 
  VISIT IS MARCIA DOUGHERTY, INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 
  OFFICER. PHONE NUMBER IS +420-2-5922-3075 (OFFICE). THE 
  FAX LINE IS +420-2-5441-5148. CELLPHONE NUMBER OF DUTY 
  OFFICER IS +420-903-703-666. RESERVATION HAS BEEN MADE 
  AT THE HOTEL DANUBE FOR 2 NIGHTS OF MARCH 2-3, 2004 
  (ADDRESS: RYBNE SQ. 1, BRATISLAVA, TEL.+420-2-5934- 
  0833, RES.NO 48425, HOTEL RATE IS 110,00 USD). 
  Transport from Vienna to Bratislava has been arranged. 
 
2.   SECURITY CLEARANCES AND BUILDING ACCESS: IF 
  NECESSARY, THE REGIONAL SECURITY OFFICER WILL PROVIDE A 
  TEMPORARY EMBASSY BADGE FOR YOU. THANK YOU FOR 
  PROVIDING YOUR CLEARANCE LEVEL IN REFTEL. 
 
3.   COMPUTER ACCESS TO MISSION FACILITIES: PRIVATELY 
  OWNED LAPTOPS AND PERSONAL COMPUTERS (INCLUDING PALM 
  PILOTS), PERIPHERALS, DISKETTES AND TAPES ARE 
  PROHIBITED IN ALL MISSION FACILITIES. TRAVELERS WITH 
  UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT (USG) OWNED UNCLASSIFIED 
  LAPTOP OR NOTEBOOK COMPUTERS, PERIPHERALS, DISKETTES 
  AND TAPES MUST RECEIVE RSO/IPO AUTHORIZATION PRIOR TO 
  BEING GRANTED ACCESS TO U.S. MISSION BUILDINGS.  USG- 
  OWNED CLASSIFIED COMPUTERS MUST BE SENT TO POST VIA 
  CLASSIFIED DIPLOMATIC POUCHES. CLASSIFIED EQUIPMENT 
  MUST BEAR EXTERNAL USG BAR CODES, INVENTORY NUMBERS, 
  AND CLASSIFICATION MARKING COMMENSURATE WITH THE 
  HIGHEST LEVEL OF INFORMATION PROCESSED ON THE SYSTEM. 
 
4.   SECURITY: THE U.S. GOVERNMENT REMAINS DEEPLY 
  CONCERNED ABOUT THE SECURITY OF U.S. CITIZENS OVERSEAS. 
  U.S. CITIZENS ARE CAUTIONED TO MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF 
  VIGILANCE, TO REMAIN ALERT AND TO TAKE APPROPRIATE 
  STEPS TO INCREASE THEIR SECURITY AWARENESS.  THERE ARE 
  INCREASING INDICATIONS THAT AL-QAIDA IS PREPARING TO 
  STRIKE U.S. INTERESTS ABROAD.    IT IS EXPECTED THAT AL- 
  QAIDA WILL STRIVE FOR NEW ATTACKS DESIGNED TO BE MORE 
  DEVASTATING THAN THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACK, POSSIBLY 
  INVOLVING NON-CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS SUCH AS CHEMICAL OR 
  BIOLOGICAL AGENTS.  TERRORIST ACTIONS MAY INCLUDE, BUT 
  ARE NOT LIMITED TO, SUICIDE OPERATIONS, HIJACKINGS, 
  BOMBINGS OR KIDNAPPINGS.  THESE MAY INCLUDE FACILITIES 
  WHERE U.S. CITIZENS AND OTHER FOREIGNERS CONGREGATE OR 
  VISIT, INCLUDING RESIDENTIAL AREAS, CLUBS, RESTAURANTS, 
  PLACES OF WORSHIP, SCHOOLS, HOTELS, OUTDOOR RECREATION 
  EVENTS OR RESORTS.  U.S. CITIZENS SHOULD REMAIN IN A 
  HEIGHTENED STATE OF PERSONAL SECURITY AWARENESS WHEN 
  ATTENDANCE AT SUCH LOCATIONS IS UNAVOIDABLE.  EMBASSY 
  BRATISLAVA FACILITIES REMAIN AT A HEIGHTENED STATE OF 
  ALERT.  THESE FACILITIES MAY TEMPORARILY CLOSE OR 
  SUSPEND PUBLIC SERVICES FROM TIME TO TIME TO ASSESS 
  THEIR SECURITY POSTURE. 
 
5.   THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC HAS A +ACI-MEDIUM+ACI- RATE OF CRIME, 
  ALTHOUGH VIOLENT CRIME IS RELATIVELY UNCOMMON. 
  VISITORS ARE URGED TO EXERCISE REASONABLE PRECAUTIONS. 
  IF YOU MUST WALK ALONE AT NIGHT, KEEP TO POPULOUS AND 
  WELL-LIT AREAS.  PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR WALLET, PURSE, 
  HANDBAG AND CELLULAR TELEPHONE, AS ALL ARE POPULAR 
  TARGETS OF THE LOCAL THIEVES.  THE LOCAL PICKPOCKETS 
  ARE PROFESSIONAL AND MOST ACTIVE DURING THE SUMMER. 
  THEY TEND TO UTILIZE DISTRACTION TECHNIQUES TO CONFUSE 
  THEIR TARGET, PREFERRING LOCATIONS SUCH AS SHOPPING 
  CENTERS, MARKETS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN THE 
  VICINITY OF THE +ACI-OLD TOWN+ACI-, NEAR MAJOR HOTELS WHERE 
  FOREIGNERS STAY AND TOURIST SITES, AND THE NIGHT TRAINS 
  TO PRAGUE AND WARSAW. POWER STRUGGLES WITHIN THE 
  ORGANIZED CRIME, WHICH CAN BE VIOLENT, OCCUR FROM TIME 
  TO TIME.  THIS ACTIVITY IS NOT/NOT DIRECTED AGAINST 
  AMERICANS OR OTHER FOREIGNERS.  THE RATE OF AUTO THEFT, 
  WHICH IS ALSO CONNECTED TO ORGANIZED CRIME, IS VERY 
  HIGH IN BRATISLAVA.  UP-MARKET EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN 
  CARS ARE PREFERRED TARGETS.  THE USE OF ALARM SYSTEMS 
  OR ANTI-THEFT DEVICES IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED. 
 
6.   MEDICAL: IF YOU EXPERIENCE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY 
  AFTER WORK HOURS, CONTACT THE EMBASSY DUTY OFFICER AT 
  CELLPHONE 0903-703-666. IF YOU CANNOT REACH THE DUTY 
  OFFICER, THE EMBASSY HAS A CONTRACT WITH AN ENGLISH 
  SPEAKING SLOVAK DOCTOR, DR. CAPOVA, WHO IS AVAILABLE 24 
  HOURS A DAY TO PROVIDE CONSULTATIONS AND ARRANGE 
  TREATMENT AT LOCAL HOSPITALS. DR. CAPOVA CAN BE REACHED 
  AT 6252 5068 (HOME) OR AT 0904 637 836 (CELL PHONE). 
  TELL DR. CAPOVA THAT YOU ARE WITH THE U.S. EMBASSY AND 
  REQUIRE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE. IF NECESSARY, DIAL 155 TO 
 
 
  CONTACT THE CITY AMBULANCE SERVICE. 
 
THAYER 
 
 
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