US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI812

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 000812 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR DS/OFM/VTC/TC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KREC, AMGT 
SUBJECT: CUSTOMS RECIPROCITY SURVEY 
 
REF: STATE 89733 
 
AMERICAN EMBASSY DJIBOUTI RECIPROCITY SURVEY 
 
I.   PERSONAL SHIPMENT 
 
A. DIPLOMATIC STAFF: YES. 
B. CONSULAR STAFF: YES. 
C. ADMINISTRATIVE AND TECHINACAL STAFF: YES. 
 
1) THERE IS NO STANDARD PROCESSING TIMES FOR CLEARANCE OF 
PERSONAL SHIPMENTS OF EMPLOYEES IN THE ABOVE CATEGORIES. 
 
2) THERE IS NO TIME LIMIT ON THE PERIOD OF DUTY-FREE 
IMPORTATIONS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE AND TECHNICAL STAFF. 
 
3) POST IS ALLOWED TO CLEAR HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS THROUGH 
CUSTOMS: 
 
A. YES, BEFORE MISSION MEMBER ARRIVES IN THE COUNTRY. 
B. YES, BEFORE THE NOTIFICATION OF MISSION MEMBER TO 
FOREIGN MINISTRY. 
C. YES, AFTER NOTIFICATION OF MISSION MEMBER TO FOREIGN 
MINISTRY. 
D. IT USUALLY TAKES ONE WEEK ONCE WE HAVE THE APPROPRIATE 
DOCUMENTS TO CLEAR HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS IF PERSONNEL IN 
CATEGORIES I. A-C HAVE NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED TO THE 
FOREIGN MINISTRY. 
 
4) YES, POST IS ALLOWED TO CLEAR AIR FREIGHT: 
 
A. YES, BEFORE MISSION MEMBER ARRIVES IN THE COUNTRY. 
B. YES, BEFORE NOTIFICATION OF MISSION MEMBER TO FOREIGN 
MINISTRY. 
C. YES, AFTER THE NOTIFICATION OF MISSION MEMBER TO 
FOREIGN MINISTRY. 
 
5) IT TAKES A WEEK TO CLEAR AIRFREIGHT IF PERSONNEL IN 
CATEGORIES I. A-C HAVE NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED TO THE 
FOREIGN MINISTRY. 
 
6) THERE IS NO RESTRICTION FOR CATEGORY I. A-C PERSONNEL 
ON: 
 
A. HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS 
B. PERSONAL EFFECTS 
C. AIR FREIGHT 
 
7) SPECIAL PROCEDURES OR REQUIREMENTS FOR IMPORTING: 
 
A. AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, NONE 
B. NO, THERE ARE NO SPECIAL PROCEDURES FOR PETS EXCEPT 
 THOSE OF INDIVIDUAL AIRLINES. 
C. IMPORTATIONS OF FIREARMS ARE SUBJECT TO STATUS OF 
FORCES AGREEMENTS (SOFA) FOR ALL MILITARY PERSONNEL ON 
ACTIVE DUTY. OTHER PERSONNEL NEED TO OBTAIN CLEARANCE 
PRIOR TO THEIR ARRIVAL OFFICIAL CLEARANCE FROM LOCAL 
NATIONAL SECURITY. 
 
8) NO, POST DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO BONDED WAREHOUSES 
AND/OR FOREIGN/FREE TRADE ZONES FOR CATEGORY I. A-C 
PERSONNEL. 
 
9) YES, DIRECT IMPORTATION OF ALCOHOL AND/OR TOBACCO 
PRODUCTS ALLOWED FOR CATEGORY I. A-C PERSONNEL. 
 
10) YES, THERE IS LIMITATION ON DUTY-FREE FOR LOCALLY 
PURCHASED ALCOHOL FOR CATEGORY I. A-C PERSONNEL 
REGARDING: 
 
A.   QUANTITIES ALLOWED: 
 
QUANTITY FOR WHISKY AND CHAMPAGNE: 
20 CARTONS PER YEAR FOR THE CHIEF OF MISSION. 
12 CARTONS PER YEAR FOR EACH DIPLOMATIC, ADMINISTRATIVE 
AND TECHNICAL STAFF. 
 
QUANTITY LIQUORS AND APERITIFS: 
20 CARTONS PER YEAR FOR THE CHIEF OF MISSION. 
12 CARTONS PER YEAR FOR EACH DIPLOMATIC, ADMINISTRATIVE 
AND TECHNICAL STAFF. 
 
QUANTITY ON WINES AND BEERS: 
20 CARTONS PER YEAR FOR THE CHIEF OF MISSION 
12 CARTONS PER YEAR FOR EACH DIPLOMATIC, ADMINISTRATIVE 
AND TECHNICAL STAFF. 
 
B. NO, ON THE TYPES OF ITEMS. 
C. NO, ON WEIGHT. 
 
II. OFFICIAL SHIPMENTS. 
 
1)_NO, DUTIES ARE CHARGED ON THE IMPORTATION OF 
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS. 
 
2) THE STANDARD FOR PROCESSING TIME FOR CLEARANCE OF 
OFFICIAL SHIPMENTS IS SEVEN DAYS. 
3) THE AIRWAY BILL IS SUFFICIENT FOR THE PROCEDURES FOR 
CLEARING UNACCOMPANIED DIPLOMATIC POUCHES. 
 
3) THE PROCEDURE FOR CLEARING ESCORTED, CLASSIFIED 
DIPLOMATIC POUCHES: TARMAC AND PLANESIDE POUCH EXCHANGE 
PERMITTED WITHOUT CUSTOMS FORMALITIES. 
 
4) IT TAKES APPROXIMATELY ONE DAY TO OBTAIN RELEASE OF 
DIPLOMATIC POUCHES WITH THE REQUIRED DETACHABLE 
CERTIFICATES. 
 
5) UNACCOMPANIED DIPLOMATIC POUCHES ARE NOT SUBJECT TO 
DELAYS. 
 
6) DIPLOMATIC POUCHES, UNACCOMPANIED AND/OR ACCOMPANIED, 
ARE NOT SUBJECT TO: 
 
A. WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS 
B. DIMENSIONAL RESTRICTIONS 
C. FREQUENCY OF ARRIVAL RESTRICTIONS 
D. STORAGE FEES 
E. SPECIAL DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS 
 
7) POST HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY RECENT VIOLATIONS OF 
DIPLOMATIC POUCHES BY THE HOST GOVERNMENT. 
 
8) ACCESS TO AIRPORT TARMAC AVAILABLE FOR: 
 
A. COURIER 
B.   EMBASSY ESCORT (WITH ADVANCE DIP NOTE NOTIFICATION 
   TO THE MFA) 
 
III. PERSONAL AND OFFICIAL SHIPMENTS. 
 
1) THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS ON ITEMS THAT CAN BE 
IMPORTED OR EXPORTED. 
 
2) THERE ARE NO PRESSING CUSTOMS-RELATED ISSUES NOT 
COVERED ABOVE, WHICH SHOULD RECEIVE OFM'S ATTENTION. 
 
3) EMBASSY IS CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING WITH THE LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT TO INCREASE OUR QUOTA OF FUEL FROM 8,500 
LITERS PER QUARTER TO 15,000 LITERS. THIS REFLECTS AN 
INCREASE IN OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS TO ACCOMMODATE AN 
EXPANSION OF EMBASSY PERSONNEL AND THREE ADDITIONAL 
MOTORPOOL VEHICLES. 
 
 
RAGSDALE