Cablegate: Burma Country Clearance for Usaid Dr. Claudia

VZCZCXYZ0018
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHGO #1013 2840948
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 110948Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6670

UNCLAS RANGOON 001013

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT PLEASE PASS TO AID/GH/PRH/PEC - CONSTELLA FUTURES

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA BM
SUBJECT: BURMA COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR USAID DR. CLAUDIA
SURJADJAJA

REF: SECSTATE 141749

1. Embassy Rangoon grants country clearance and welcomes the
visit of USAID Consultant Dr. Claudia Surjadjaja, to Burma
October 21-25, 2007. Purpose of travel is to attend the 23rd
meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Technical Cooperation
in Pharmaceuticals, to be held in Rangoon.

2. Your Embassy point of contact is Samantha Carl-Yoder,
Economic Officer, who can be reached at:

Telephone (95) (1) 650-006 extension 4227,
Fax (95) (1) 650-306,
Home phone (95) (1) 650-651, room 513,
Mobile phone (95) (9) 502-2318
Or e-mail at Carl-YoderSA@state.gov.

3. Per Reftel, no Embassy assistance is required. Post
requests that Dr. Surjadjaja meet with Embassy officials
after the Working Group meeting for an outbrief.

4. All U.S. visitors traveling to Burma, with no exceptions,
must have visas prior to arrival. Entry visa processing can
take up to four weeks through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and the Burmese Embassy in Washington, and visas requested
elsewhere can take even longer to process. Airport visas are
not available.

5. Due to international financial sanctions, please be
advised that credit cards and travelers checks generally are
not accepted anywhere in Burma. Therefore, you should bring
sufficient cash to cover all of your in-country expenses.
Dollars may be exchanged for the local currency (kyat) at
authorized exchange locations. You may pay your hotel bill
in U.S. dollars. There is also an airport departure fee of
$10.

6. Please note there are U.S. Customs restrictions on what
Americans may take out of Burma to the United States.
Official travelers on diplomatic passports may import Burmese
products into the U.S. for personal use only. Gifts for
other persons or items for resale are prohibited. Travelers
on official or regular passports cannot import any Burmese
products into the U.S., apart from a few specialized exempted
items.

7. In light of recent bombings in Burma, visitors should
practice heightened security awareness and avoid crowded
public places, including shopping malls and markets,
demonstrations, large public gatherings, and any area
cordoned off by security forces. Official travelers can
assume their actions in Burma are being closely monitored,
particularly in hotel lobbies and rooms, when meeting Burmese
citizens, and when using the telephone. Official visitors
may not travel outside of Rangoon without Embassy approval.
Local traffic can be confusing and hazardous; post recommends
using taxis or rental cars with drivers when possible.
Visitors should protect their valuables at all times while in
public. Available medical care is not up to U.S. standard.

8. The vast majority of visitors to Burma complete their
travel without complication. We hope your visit will be
productive and enjoyable.
STOLTZ

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