Cablegate: Country Clearance for Kristen Silverberg, Io

VZCZCXYZ0026
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKO #6900/01 3420130
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 080130Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8958
INFO RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA PRIORITY 4223
RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR PRIORITY 1761
RUEHFT/AMCONSUL FRANKFURT PRIORITY 0438
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 2704

UNCLAS TOKYO 006900

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR IO/K.GROTE, C.WOELK, K.FRASER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA OVIP PREL JA
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR KRISTEN SILVERBERG, IO
ASSISTANT SECRETARY

REF: STATE 194193

1. (U) Embassy welcomes and grants country clearance for the
December 20-24, 2006 visit to Japan by IO A/S Kristen
Silverberg and Raymond Hotz.

2. (U) Control Officer for the visit will be Scott Hansen.
He can be reached at:

Office phone: (81-3)3224-5559
Home phone: (81-3)3224-6858
Mobile phone: 81-80-1020-2000
Fax: (81-3)3224-5322
E-mail: HansenSW@state.gov (unclassified)

3. (U) A schedule will be sent via separate email.

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Hotel Reservations
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4. (U) Tokyo hotel reservations have been made for A/S
Silverberg for the nights of 20-23 (4 nights) and for Mr.
Hotz for the nights of 20-22 (3 nights) at the:

ANA Hotel Tokyo
1-12-33 Akasaka
Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052
Tel: (81-3) 3505-1111
Fax: (81-3) 3505-1155

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Airport to Hotel Transportation
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5. (U) Control Officer will meet and assist A/S Silverberg
upon her arrival at Narita International Airport.

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Visa
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6. (U) Holders of U.S. diplomatic or official passports must
have a Japanese visa to enter Japan. Travelers on a U.S.
tourist (blue cover) passport may enter Japan as a tourist
without a Japanese visa for up to 90 days.

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Embassy Laptop Policy
----------------------

7. (U) The Embassy's laptop policy is as follows: Absolutely
no personal, non-government owned laptop computers may enter
the Embassy. Absolutely no laptop, even government owned,
may be connected to the Embassy network in any way. TDY
employees are reminded that no government owned laptops may
enter the Embassy without prior RSO approval. Absolutely no
laptop, even government owned, inside CAA areas unless
special pre-approval, based on business need, has been given.
If you would like to bring a US government owned and
provided laptop computer into the Embassy, please contact the
RSO's office prior to your visit for the briefing and
approval.

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Threat Assessment
-----------------

8. (U) U.S. Government facilities worldwide remain at a
heightened state of alert. As the U.S. Government has
reported in public announcements over the last several
months, U.S. citizens and interests abroad may be at
increased risk of terrorist actions from extremist groups,
which may target civilians and include suicide operations.
Most recently, we advised that we had unconfirmed information
that terrorist actions may be taken against U.S. Military
facilities and/or establishments frequented by U.S. military
personnel in Korea and Japan. Americans should increase
their security awareness and avoid locations where Americans
are generally known to congregate. The Department will
continue to develop information about potential threats to
Americans overseas and to share credible threat information
through its consular information program documents available
on the internet at the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page:
http://www.travel.state.gov.

9. (U) In addition, we continue to be concerned about
information we received in May 2001 that American citizens
may be the target of a terrorist threat from extremist groups
with links to Usama Bin Laden's Al-Qaida organization. In
the past, such individuals have not distinguished between
official and civilian targets. The Embassy takes all threats
seriously. The U.S. Embassy Tokyo can be contacted 24 hours
a day at 03-3224-5000 (locally) or 81-3-3224-5000
(internationally).

10. (SBU) The general threat from crime in Tokyo and
throughout Japan is low. Crime is at levels well below the
U.S. national average. Violent crime is rare, but does
exist. The Japanese National Police report continued
problems with pick-pocketing of foreigners in crowded
shopping areas of Tokyo. Although street crime is low,
common sense security measures are advised for all American
citizens traveling in Japan.

11. (SBU) Visitors are urged to maintain a high level of
vigilance and to increase their security awareness.
Americans should maintain a low profile, vary routes and
times for all required travel, and treat mail and packages
from unfamiliar sources with suspicion. Visitors are also
urged to avoid contact with any suspicious, unfamiliar
objects, and to report the presence of such objects to local
authorities. Vehicles should not be left unattended and
should be kept locked at all times.
SCHIEFFER

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