Cablegate: Country Clearance to Tunisia Granted for Codel Boehner

VZCZCXYZ0004
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTU #0264 0740704
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140704Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4636
INFO RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 1363

UNCLAS TUNIS 000264

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE PLEASE PASS H FOR CODEL BOEHNER
STATE ALSO FOR NEA/MAG (HARRIS)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OREP AMGT ASEC TS JO
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE TO TUNISIA GRANTED FOR CODEL BOEHNER

REF: STATE 25454

1. Embassy Tunis grants country clearance and warmly welcomes
Senator John Boehner and accompanying members of CODEL Boehner to
Tunisia from March 25-27, 2008.

2. Points of contact for the visit are Political Officer Trina Saha
and Cultural Affairs Officer Ellen Bienstock. Contact information
for Ms. Saha is as follows: Phone: 216-71-107-362 or 216-71-107-000;
Fax:
216-71-107-090; Cell: 216-20-354-536; Home: 216-71-752-101;
email: sahatd@state.gov. Contact information for Ms. Bienstock is
as follows: Phone: 216-71-107-281 or 216-71-107-000; Fax:
216-71-963-263; Cell: 216-20-541-102; Home: 216-71-964-878;
email: bienstockes@state.gov.

3. Post will meet and assist at the airport with Embassy expeditor
and vehicles.

4. Reservations have been made for CODEL Boehner at the Les Berges
du Lac Concorde Hotel, Rue du Lac Turkana, 1053 Tunis, Tunisia.
Room rate for single rooms is USD 119, including breakfast, taxes
and Internet. Hotel Phone: (216) 71-961-951. Fax: (216) 71-961-952.
Website:
tunis.concorde-hotels.com/en/.

5. The Embassy will provide accommodation exchange on arrival.
Current approximate exchange rate is USD 1 equals 1.180 Tunisian
Dinars.

6. Embassy Tunis' normal workweek is Monday through Friday; office
hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Tunisian Government offices are
closed on Friday afternoon.

7. Entry requirements: a valid passport is required; no visa is
necessary.

8. Post requests that security clearance of personnel escorting the
Members of Congress be forwarded as soon as possible.

9. Travelers with private or U.S. Government (USG) owned electronic
devices including laptops, peripherals, diskettes, tapes, and other
media, must receive RSO/ISSO authorization before these items can be
allowed into Embassy facilities. Classified computers must be sent
to post via the classified diplomatic pouch, or be hand carried by a
non-professional diplomatic courier. All classified equipment must
bear external USG bar-coded inventory numbers and classification
marking commensurate with the highest level of information processed
on the system. Cellular/mobile phones and palm-pilots are
prohibited in Controlled Access Areas. Questions concerning other
types of electronic devices and magnetic media may be directed to
the ISSO or RSO. Electricity in Tunisia is 220 Volts.

10. Security/Crime Information: Tunisia is a moderate Arab country
that has traditionally enjoyed peace and stability. However, in
light of the September 11 attacks in the United States and in view
of the ongoing violence in Israel, the West Bank, Gaza and elsewhere
in the Middle East region, the American Embassy reminds visitors to
maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to
increase their security awareness. While the Government of Tunisia
has and will continue to make every effort to protect foreigners,
visitors should avoid large crowds and crowded public areas and keep
in regular contact with the Embassy.

11. Tunisian security forces are omnipresent and generally ensure
public order. Low level, non-violent property crimes of opportunity
are relatively common. Pickpockets and purse-snatchers are common
in areas with high volume tourist traffic, such as the Tunis Medina
(old city) and central market. It is prudent to exercise normal
travel security precautions and maintain a low profile as one would
in any major U.S. city. This should help to ensure an incident-free
visit.
GODEC

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