Cablegate: Country Clearance for Paris Rsi Participants

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TO RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS IMMEDIATE 0830
RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON IMMEDIATE 1018
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID IMMEDIATE 2487
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT IMMEDIATE 0969
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RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS IMMEDIATE 0836
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3430
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEATRS/DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEAWJA/DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS PARIS 007580

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

S/CT FOR MARC NORMAN; R FOR AMB BRIAN CARLSON; EUR FOR
NERISSA COOK, NEA FOR DAS GORDON DRAY; SOCOM FOR MG DAVID
SCOTT; JOINT STAFF FOR BG MARK SCHISSLER; DOJ FOR AAG BRUCE
SWARTZ; NCTC FOR ADD ROLLIE BURANS; OSD FOR MARIO MANCUSO;
EUCOM FOR LCDR LATHROP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER FR
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR PARIS RSI PARTICIPANTS

1. Embassy Paris warmly welcomes and provides country
clearance for visiting USG officials participating in the
Western Mediterranean Regional Strategic Initiative Chiefs of
Mission Conference to travel to Paris, France from December 4
to December 8, 2006. The RSI conference will bring together
an interagency delegation from Washington with the U.S.
Ambassadors from Algeria, France, Italy, Morocco, Portugal,
Spain, and Tunisia. Please note action requests in paragraphs
4 and 6, and visa requirements in paragraph 5.

2. Control Officer for the overall conference is Political
Officer, John L. Espinoza, who can be reached by unclassified
e-mail at EspinozaJohnL@state.gov, by classified e-mail at
EspinozaJL@state.sgov.gov, by phone at (33-1) 43 12 25 75,
via cell phone at (33-6) 20 43 86 88, or by FAX at (33-1) 43
12 26 63. He can also be reached at home via the Embassy
switchboard at (33-1) 43 12 22 22. Control Officer for
administrative issues is S/GSO Charles J. Hamblett, who can
be reached by unclassified e-mail at HamblettCJ@state.gov, or
by phone at (33-1) 43 12 27 30. He can also be reached at
home via the Embassy switchboard at (33-1) 43 12 22 22.
Note: If dialing from outside France, the country and area
codes are 33-1 for fixed phones in the Paris region and 33-6
for cell phones nationwide. If dialing from inside France,
the respective numbers are 01 and 06.

3. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Meurice Hotel
for this conference. The Meurice Hotel is located at 228 Rue
de Rivoli, 75001, and is within a 10 minute walking distance
of the Embassy. The negotiated room rate is 220 Euros per
night, single occupancy, or approximately USD 266. The
Meurice Hotel telephone numbers are: (33-1) 44 58 10 10 ,
fax: (33-1) 44 58 10 15. The room rate is within lodging
perdiem, though this is subject to fluctuation in the Euro.

4. Action request: If you have not already done so, please
contact Charles J. Hamblett (hamblettcj@state.gov), and Chanh
Nguyen (NguyenCT5@state.gov) no later than COB Thursday,
November 30 to guarantee a room under this block. Please
include full name(s), single or double occupancy, arrival and
departure information, smoking or non smoking desirability,
credit card type, credit card number, and expiration date.

5. We would like to point out that a 48 hour notice is due in
case of cancellation or modification in travel plans in order
to avoid no-show charges. Please be aware that check-in time
is 3:00 PM, with check-out no later than 12:00. Breakfast is
available at the hotel for 30-45 Euros or at the Embassy
cafeteria for less than 10 Euros, though it does not open
before 8:30 AM. Bags can be left at the hotel before
check-in. Hotel internet connections are provided gratis. A
5 Euro baggage portage fee is charged in and out. Per diem is
currently $285 for lodging and $155 M&IE. Taxi fare from
Charles de Gaulle Roissy Airport to the hotel should not
exceed approximately 50 Euros.

6. Action request: Please contact Ronald Gain, S/CT, who can
be reached by unclassified e-mail at GainRL@state.gov or by
phone, at 202-647-1843, to obtain fiscal data for your travel
expenses. In order to avoid any problem with the fluctuation
in the Euro, we suggest travel orders be drafted to fund
lodging "at actual cost." We also note that Ambassador
Stapleton is hosting a dinner at his residence on December 5
for other Ambassadors in the region and Assistant
Secretaries, and a lunch at his residence on December 6 for

SIPDIS
all conference attendees. M&IE allowances should be reduced
by the appropriate amounts to cover these costs: 57 Euros for
dinner and 52 Euros for lunch.

7. Embassy media policy stipulates that any contact of
visitors with the media be coordinated through the Embassy
press office at (33-1) 43 12 28 33.

8. Embassy wishes to remind visitors that visas are required
for holders of U.S. diplomatic or official passports on
official business in France.

9. Following is current security information for France:

(A) Terrorism: The current terrorism threat in France
mirrors the general worldwide threat. Trans-national terror
groups such as al-Qaida likely have a presence in France and
do present a general threat. French law enforcement and
intelligence services are effective in responding to this
threat and remain in a heightened state of alert, but cannot
completely negate it. For this reason American citizens
should practice good personal security when visiting France.
Remaining unpredictable is perhaps the simplest but most
effective way of ensuring personal safety. This is
particularly true when departing or arriving at your place of
residence. Being aware of your surroundings and suspicious
persons or activities is also critically important. Do not
accept packages, do not open hotel doors to strangers and
immediately report any suspicious activities to the police
(telephone 17) and Regional Security Office telephone (33-1)
43 12 27 96.

(B) Crime: Street crime in French cities is similar to that
in most large metropolitan areas. The two most frequent
crimes are pick pocketing and snatch/run theft. These
criminals most often ply their trade on public transportation
routes used by tourists and at tourist sites. In Paris,
visitors should be particularly alert when using Metro lines
numbers one and two, in addition to the RER trains serving
the airports. Tourist sites such as the Eiffel Tower,
Montmartre, the major museums and the Avenue des Champs
Elysees are all areas of heavy activity. Visitor should use
hotel safes whenever possible to store valuables and excess
cash. Awareness should go up when conditions are crowded.
Maintain control of cameras and bags, do not carry these
items behind you. Criminals on metros often push into you
for distraction and pickpocket while doing so. Another
technique is to grab valuables and escape just as the metro
doors are closing. If credit cards are stolen, proceed to
the nearest telephone and immediately notify the card issuer.
Stolen credit cards are used immediately. Whenever
possible, take a seat or keep your back to a wall when on the
metro system. It is also recommended that a photocopy of
your passport identification page be carried in lieu of the
passport itself. Report any incidents to the Regional
Security Office as soon as possible.

(C) Electronic devices: Privately-owned laptops and personal
computers are prohibited in controlled access areas (CAAs) of
the Mission and consulates. Travelers with USG unclassified
and classified laptop or notebook computers should review '95
State 244394 (classified machines) and '95 State 243825
(unclassified machines) and notify the Information Management
Office (IMO) before bringing these machines into CAA.
Cellular telephones are also prohibited in the CAA and must
be left outside this area. Questions concerning other types
of electronic devices may be directed to the Information
Management Office or Regional Security Office.

(D) For additional threat assessment information regarding
France and/or Europe, you may contact DS/ITA in the State
Department at (202) 663-0787.

10. Health Concerns: For up-to-date information on health
precautions for France, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) website contains a detailed analysis of
risks involved at: http:cdc.gov/travel/disease.htm.

Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
STAPLETON

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