VZCZCXRO2182
PP RUEHDA
DE RUEHAK #0136/01 0141557
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 141557Z JAN 06
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2535
INFO RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU 1298
RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI 2946
RUEHYE/AMEMBASSY YEREVAN 1166
RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 0269
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 9567

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 000136 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EUR/PGI NERISSA COOK AND CELESTE CONNORS 
FOR OES/IHA JACK CRODDY, HAROLD FOSTER AND REBECCA DALEY FOR 
EUR/SE GRANT MCMURRAN AND BAXTER HUNT 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OTRA TBIO CDC WHO TU AGMT
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR US INTERAGENCY AVIAN 
INFLUENZA TEAM TO TRAVEL TO TURKEY 
 
REF:  STATE 007161 
 
¶1.  Embassy Ankara grants country clearance for the US 
Interagency Avian Influenza Team traveling to Turkey 
arriving January 16 to assess the Avian Influenza outbreak 
in Turkey and to assist the response by the GoT, WHO and 
FAO/OIE. 
 
¶2.  Embassy Ankara will meet and assist team members at 
Ankara Airport.  Ankara will also expedite the issuance of 
visas for those who need them.  Transportation will be 
provided at the airport and while team members are in- 
country. 
 
¶3.  Hotel reservations have been secured at the Sheraton 
Hotel in Ankara.  Tel:  +90-312-468-5454, Fax +90-312-468- 
¶5497. 
 
¶4.  Control Officer for the visit is EST Officer David Young 
who can be reached through the Embassy Operator at (90 312) 
455 5555, mobile phone (90) 532 620 3846, or e-mail at 
YoungDK@state.gov. 
 
¶5.  Visas:  All Americans traveling to Turkey must have a 
valid visa.   Effective April 1, 2004, travelers without 
a visa can obtain a visa valid for one entry/three months 
at port of entry upon payment of USD 20 fee.  This fee is 
payable only in U.S. Dollars cash.  There is no fee for 
official travel if the visa is obtained outside of 
Turkey. 
 
¶6.   Health safety: Information on vaccinations and other 
health precautions can be obtained from the Center for 
Disease Control and Prevention Hotline for International 
Travelers (tel: 1-877-394-8747; fax 1-800-CDC-FAXX, 1- 
800-232-3299; or via the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov. 
 
¶7.   Security Assessment:  In the aftermath of Operation 
Iraqi Freedom (OIF) there continues to be the potential 
for both transnational and indigenous terrorist groups to 
target U.S. interests in Turkey.  After the Gulf War, the 
predecessor to the Turkish Terrorist Group Revolutionary 
People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C) assassinated 
four Americans in Turkey and carried out numerous 
bombings of U.S. targets (mostly private sector 
businesses, although two rockets were directed toward the 
Consulate General in Istanbul).  Subsequent to the ending 
of OIF hostilities, there have been isolated terrorist 
bombings attributed to DHKP/C and other indigenous 
terrorist groups in protest of OIF.  Other Turkish 
terrorist groups with anti-Western sympathies include 
Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (MLKP) Turkish Communist 
Party/Marxist Leninist (TKP/ML), Turkish Workers and 
Peasants Revolutionary Army (TIKKO) and Islamic Greater 
Eastern Raiders/Front (IBDA/C).! 
 
Al-Qa'ida threats to target U.S. facilities in Turkey 
have been public knowledge for some time.  On November 
15, 2003, two synagogues in Istanbul were the targets of 
suicide car bombs.  On November 20, the British Consulate 
General and the London-based HSBC bank in Istanbul were 
damaged by powerful explosions, killing dozens and 
wounding hundreds.  These incidents represent a 
significant change from prior attacks in Turkey, which 
have previously involved small-scale, random bombings and 
small numbers of casualties.  The investigations of these 
incidents in Istanbul remain open but transnational 
terrorist links are suspected.  The potential for 
violence and terrorist actions against U.S. citizens and 
interests continues. 
 
The Turkish National Police (TNP) is quite responsive in 
their role as protector of U.S. diplomatic and military 
interests in Turkey.  The TNP has provided enhanced 
coverage at each of our facilities in Ankara, Istanbul, 
Adana and Izmir.  The incidence of crime, both violent 
and the more traditional tourist crimes (pick pocketing, 
purse-snatching, etc.), is relatively low throughout 
Turkey.  Visitors to Istanbul should be aware that 
tourist-type crimes are more prevalent there, especially 
in the traditionalist tourist areas, such as Sultanahmet 
and Istiklal Caddesi.  The security office encourages 
visitors to report any security incidents, including 
surveillance, to the RSO immediately. Useful security 
 
ANKARA 00000136  002 OF 002 
 
 
information about Turkey is available on the following 
websites: 
 
--Embassy Ankara:  HTTP://WWW.USEMB-ANKARA.ORG.TR  (Click 
on Security Matters) 
 
--Consulate General Istanbul:  HTTP://WWW.USCONSULATE- 
ISTANBUL.ORG.TR 
 
¶8.   For further information regarding travel in Turkey 
consult the Consular Information Sheet.  The Consular 
Information Sheet and public announcements are available 
on the internet at: http://travel.state.gov. 
 
Other information is available on the following websites: 
 
--The State Department Consular Affairs (ca) website: 
http://www.travel.state.gov/turkey.html 
 
--Turkish Daily News (English language Turkish 
newspaper): http://www.turkishdaily news.com 
 
--Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 
http://www.mfa.gov.tr 
 
--The Republic of Turkey home page: 
http://www.turkey/index.html 
 
--Weather for Turkey: 
http://www.wunderground.com/global/tu.html 
 
WILSON