VZCZCXYZ0031
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHPS #0257 0810904
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 220904Z MAR 06
FM USOFFICE PRISTINA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5935
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 3372
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0882
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS

UNCLAS PRISTINA 000257 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC MW MONTENEGRO PREF SR YI ZL
SUBJECT:  COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED TO ROLF OLSON 
 
REF:  SECSTATE 42722 
 
¶1.  US Office Pristina welcomes and grants country clearance 
to PRM/ECA Program Officer, Rolf Olson to visit Pristina March 
26-29, 2006.  The purpose of the visit is to examine the 
current environment for minority returnees in Kosovo and to 
meet with UNHCR, NGO partners, UNMIK, and PISG officials on 
returns initiatives and current assistance efforts. Control 
officer will be Deputy Econ/Pol Chief David Whiddon, who can 
be reached at: office 381-38-549-516 ext. 3241; GSM 377-44-153 
565; fax 381-38-549-890. 
 
¶2.  Post will coordinate arrangements for overland travel with 
Amembassy Belgrade. Post will also make arrangements for 
transportation for official meetings during the visit. 
Accommodations have been confirmed at Hotel Victory, Tel# 
038/543 277; www.hotel-victory.com.  The Hotel Victory accepts 
cash only. The room rate is Euro 73.90 a night, including 
breakfast. 
 
¶3.  Kosovo is a cash (Euro) economy.  There are a few 
operating ATMs. A few large stores and some hotels take credit 
cards.  Not all ATMS are reliable and personnel should use 
normal ATM safety precautions.  TDY personnel should bring 
sufficient cash or travelers' checks to cover all hotel and 
other incidental expenses and may exchange dollars for Euros 
from 9:00am-11:30am and 1:00pm-3:30pm each Monday, Tuesday, 
Wednesday and Friday and 9:00am-11:30am each Thursday at the 
U.S. Office cashier.  Only USOP accepts travelers' checks. 
Reverse accommodation is available at the end of the visit. 
 
¶4.  Security issues:  The security situation in Kosovo is 
fluid and there is still risk from occasional episodes of 
violence; incidents of ethnic violence continue to occur. 
Land mines remain in some outlying areas.  Civil society 
institutions generally do not yet meet Western standards. 
There is criminal activity against internationals, including 
purse snatching and residential break-ins and general 
precautions are recommended.  KFOR is deployed throughout 
Kosovo. 
 
¶5.   Travel to certain areas within Kosovo province requires 
fully armored vehicles and advance RSO approval.  To 
facilitate planning, please provide travel itinerary to USOP 
in advance of arrival, as same-day travel can be difficult to 
arrange.  To provide appropriate access to USOP facilities, 
visitors must ensure all necessary security clearances are 
included with travel messages. 
 
¶6.   Please ensure ASEC tags are included to ensure proper 
distribution.  Specific questions regarding security may be 
addressed to USOP's RSO or your control officer. 
 
GOLDBERG