VZCZCXYZ0002
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAK #0445/01 0341320
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 031320Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEAORC/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PRO WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2922
INFO RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 6486
RUEAHLC/HQ ICE IAO-PHAB WASHINGTON DC
RUEAORC/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PRO WASHDC

UNCLAS ANKARA 000445 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
ROME INFO FOR ICE ATTACHE R. STIRITI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EWWT ETRD OTRA TU
SUBJECT: COUNTRY LEARANCE GRANTED FOR ROBERT STIRITI, TODD 
HORTON, LISA WAINWRIGHT, ICE 
 
REF: ANKARA 011425 
 
¶1.  Embassy Ankara grants country clearance to Robert 
Stiriti, Todd Horton and Lisa Wainwright for February 5-7, 
¶2006. The purpose of the visit will be to meet with Turkish 
officials regarding the planning of a CSI assessment of the 
Port of Izmir, Turkey. 
 
¶2.  Point of contact for the visit at Embassy Ankara is 
Economic Officer Rebecca Patrick, who can be reached through 
the Embassy switchboard at (90-312)455-5555 extension 2255. 
 
¶3.  Hotel reservations have been made at the Sheraton Hotel, 
confirmation numbers Stiriti 346756922, Horton 356256922 and 
Wainwright 376956982. 
 
¶4.   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. 
 
¶5.   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. 
 
¶6.   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 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 
 
 
¶7.   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