US embassy cable - 05PRAGUE467

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 000467 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR OIG/ISP, EUR/NCE, and EUR/EX 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASIG, EZ, AMGT 
SUBJECT: POST FOLLOW-UP TO OIG RECOMMENDATIONS 
 
REF: SECSTATE 47752 
 
1.  Prague submits the following responses to the four 
remaining open/unresolved recommendations from the OIG 
inspection of Embassy Prague (ISP-I-04-39A), issued 
September, 2004. 
 
2.  Recommendation No. 1:  Embassy Prague should request, 
and the Bureau of Consular Affairs and Bureau of European 
And Eurasian Affairs should approve and fund, an additional 
Foreign Service national position in the Consular Section to 
perform Consular management support duties.  (Action: 
Embassy Prague, in coordination with CA and EUR) 
 
Initial response:  Embassy concurs with the OIG 
recommendation and has taken action.  The FMO section has 
included the cost of an FSN-06 management support position 
in its budget forecast and will include the request in this 
year's MPP submission.  Embassy now awaits funding from 
Department to take further action on this recommendation. 
 
Analysis:  OIG notes the actions taken by Embassy Prague, 
please notify OIG once the position has been approved and 
funded and the recommendation can be closed. 
Response:  Post has included the cost of an FSN-06 consular 
management support position in its budget forecast and has 
included the resource request in this year's MPP 
submission.  Discussions between post and EUR Budget have 
not resulted in the funding for this position.  Post has 
also informally discussed with the Bureau of Consular 
Affairs the possibility of funding the position; also 
without success.  Department funding for this position does 
not appear likely in the near future. 
3.  Recommendation No. 6:  Embassy Prague should complete 
and implement the information system documentation 
requirements and provide copies of the plans to the Bureau 
of Information Resource Management.  (Action:  Embassy 
Prague) 
 
Initial response:  ISSO and Systems Managers have submitted 
the IT Contingency Plan and System Security Plan to DS for 
review. The Configuration Management Plan has an anticipated 
completion/submission date of 31 January 2004. 
 
Analysis:  In the next update, please confirm if the IT 
plans have been completed and implemented. 
 
Response:  All required System Documentation has been 
implemented at post and submitted to DS/SI/CS/RAD for 
review. 
 
4.  Recommendation No. 7:  Embassy Prague, in coordination 
with the Bureau of Information Resource Management, should 
work to approve an offsite alternate facility for classified 
information systems processing and storage.  (Action: 
Embassy Prague, in coordination with IRM) 
 
Initial response:  IRM equipment and contingency plans are 
available, but the lack of an offsite location cleared for 
the storage and processing reduces their effectiveness. Post 
IMO is currently working with IRM and DS to resolve 
this issue. DS regulations regarding offsite 
storage/processing of classified information severely reduce 
the options open to post regarding storage of contingency 
classified equipment/operations. 
 
Analysis:  In the next update, please provide information on 
any progress made to secure an offsite alternative facility 
for classified IM storage/processing.  Per IRM memo DTD 
11/22/04, OIG is removing IRM as the participating entity on 
this recommendation. 
 
Response:  IRM and post IMO have addressed this issue to the 
extent of their ability. With no facility 
approved for storage of classified material locally, 
post continues the practice of sending classified backup 
tapes to AMCONSUL Munich for storage. The ability to 
store classified equipment and media offsite (locally) is 
not feasible. 
 
5.  Recommendation No. 8:  Embassy Prague should discontinue 
the practice of authorizing U.S. government sponsored school 
employees to use the diplomatic pouch for personal mail 
services.  (Action:  Embassy Prague) 
 
Initial response:  Embassy is in the process of formally 
requesting a waiver from DPM in order to provide this 
service to the U.S. citizens currently working at the 
International School in Prague. 
 
Analysis:  During the inspection, OIG found that Embassy 
Prague has authorized the school employees to use the pouch 
for personal mail, which is prohibited by 5 FAM 343.5. 
 
Response:  Post has sent a cable to A/DPM requesting a 
waiver for this service (Prague 0450). We await a response 
before taking further action. 
 
CABANISS