VZCZCXYZ0002
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRH #6814/01 2391200
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 271200Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH
TO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1023
INFO RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH 7637

UNCLAS RIYADH 006814 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
TREASURY PASS TO SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION FOR 
CAROL WALKER AND CLIVETTE JONES. 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EFIN OTRA SA SEC
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE APPROVAL FOR SEC OFFICIALS TO 
TRAVEL TO RIYADH SEPTEMBER 9-15, 2006 
 
REF: STATE 138368 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED 
 
NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION - PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY 
 
¶1.  The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia welcomes and grants 
provisional country clearance for Mr. Ethiopis Tafara, Dr. 
Robert M. Fisher, Mr. Timothy Warren and Mr. Ester Saverson 
Jr. for a training seminar for Saudi Arabia's Capital Market 
Authority from September 9-15, 2006. 
 
¶2.  Due to recent severe budget cuts, the Mission must direct 
charge all visit support costs.  Country clearance is 
expressly conditional on advance receipt or assurances of 
complete fiscal data covering all support expenses for all 
visitors and delegation members.  Please see Para 6 for 
details. 
 
¶3.  Mission Control Officer will be Economic Officer, Lubaina 
Qaiyumi. She will meet Mr. Ethiopis Tafara, Dr. Robert M. 
Fisher, Mr. Timothy Warren and Mr. Ester Saverson Jr. upon 
arrival and transportation will be provided.  Contact numbers 
are:  Embassy MSG Post 1 - (966-1) 488-3800, Ext. 4111; 
Embassy Motorpool - (966-1) 488-3800, Ext. 4252; Lubaina 
Qaiyumi, Control Officer Home (966-1) 482-2704, Office 
(966-1) 488-3800 Ext. 4279, Cell Phone (966-50)355-2145 and 
E-Mail Address: QaiyumiLB@state.gov. 
 
¶4.  Lodging has been arranged at Al Faisaliah Hotel, Phone 
number (966-1) 273-2222 and FAX number (966-1) 273-3001. 
Hotel confirmation numbers are as follows:  Mr. Ethiopis 
Tafara (201022), Dr. Robert M. Fisher (201018), Mr. Timothy 
Warren (201019) and Mr. Ester Saverson Jr. (201021).  Credit 
card or cash is acceptable at local hotels; cash is best for 
other lodging. 
 
¶5.  Sponsoring office shall issue visitors a cell phone and 
provide the number to the Embassy switchboard.  Travelers are 
required to have an active functioning cell phone at all 
times. 
 
Standard Advice to Travelers 
---------------------------- 
 
¶6.  Visit Typical Expenses 
 
a.  VIP:  We calculate the average cost per day/per person to 
be approximately USD 197.00 for VIP visitors with a special 
agenda above the rank of Office Director to any post in Saudi 
Arabia.  Actual costs will be charged to the fiscal data 
provided. 
 
Typical costs include, but are not limited to, American and 
Locally Employed Staff's overtime, holiday pay and premium 
pay as applicable, field travel by Embassy personnel, 
transportation costs, vehicle rental, telephone installation 
and service, equipment rental, printing expenses, supplies, 
and any other costs that can be directly attributed to the 
visit. 
 
b.  Operational Support:  Typical costs include overtime for 
Locally Employed Staff, overtime and mileage for motorpool if 
after hours transportation required, cell phone and any other 
costs that can be directly attributed to the visit. 
 
¶7.  TDY of 30 Days or Longer 
 
a.  Certification that travelers remaining at post for 30 
days or longer have completed the appropriate, mandatory 
overseas personal security training, prior to arrival at post 
(State 66580, March 25, 2004).  Waivers to this requirement 
may only be granted by the Chief of Mission.  Requests should 
be sent to Ambassador James Oberwetter or Deputy Chief of 
Mission Michael Gfoeller. 
 
b.  For TDYers remaining at post over 30 days, there will be 
a charge for ICASS support.  If your sponsoring agency has 
not signed up for ICASS services at post, please be prepared 
to sign a MOU for ICASS support services upon arrival.  The 
agency should provide post with a written authorization, 
generated by the traveler's headquarters, that confirms the 
agency will pay ICASS charges for the TDYer, provide the 
agency ICASS billing code, and authorize the traveler to sign 
the ICASS invoice generated by the TDY module.  Where travel 
is urgent, TDYers should bring this documentation with them 
to ensure there will be no interruption in service.  Post 
will not provide service to a TDYer in excess of 30 days 
 
without this documentation prior to day 31 of the TDY.  For 
each sponsoring agency that sends a series of TDYers for less 
than 30 days, post will add total TDY days and if the total 
exceeds 30 days, count them as a single TDY. 
 
c.  The Department of State Medical Unit recommends 
vaccination against meningitis for all visitors to Saudi 
Arabia.  All employees, including WAEs and Civil Service 
employees who are in TDY status for more than 60 days 
(cumulatively) in a calendar year, are required to have 
up-to-date medical clearances from the Office of Medical 
Services at Class 1 or Class 2 levels in order to receive 
full State Department medical benefits (3 FAM 1931.3, c, e). 
 
¶8.  Security:  As a result of the continuing terrorist threat 
in Saudi Arabia, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates General in 
Saudi Arabia became one-year unaccompanied posts effective 
August 12, 2004. 
 
All incoming personnel (TDY or PCS) must receive an 
RSO-approved security brief prior to or upon arrival.  The 
Control Officer designated in the country clearance cable is 
responsible for ensuring the appropriate brief is obtained. 
For TDY personnel with stays of less than 96 hours and where 
travel is limited to Riyadh with nearly all visit activity 
occurring within the Diplomatic Quarter, an RSO-written brief 
provided in paper or electronic form to the visitor by the 
Control Officer will satisfy the requirement.  For all other 
circumstances, the Control Officer must provide the traveler 
the paper or electronic brief before or upon the visitor's 
arrival, PLUS arrange for an appropriate security briefing 
session with the RSO. 
 
Travel is performed only in Embassy vehicles.  Use of taxis, 
private cars, hotel shuttles, and public transportation for 
all travel within the city is not authorized. 
 
Travelers to Saudi Arabia are advised that their hotel rooms 
and any telephones used may be monitored during their stay in 
the Kingdom.  Travelers should report any unusual occurrences 
to the Embassy or Consulate General RSO. 
 
On December 6, 2004, there was an armed attack on the U.S. 
Consulate in Jeddah, resulting in casualties among the 
non-American staff and damage to Consulate facilities.  Due 
to such targeted attacks against American facilities and 
citizens, resulting in deaths, injuries and kidnappings, and 
the continuing serious threat to their safety while in Saudi 
Arabia, the Department of State continues to warn U.S. 
citizens to defer travel to Saudi Arabia. 
 
TDYers are reminded of the potential for further terrorist 
actions against U.S. citizens abroad, including in the 
Persian Gulf region.  USG employees who travel to Saudi 
Arabia are required to follow all security precautions as 
prescribed by the Regional Security Officer including the use 
of armored vehicles.  From time to time, the U.S. Embassy and 
Consulates in Saudi Arabia may restrict the travel of 
official Americans or suspend public services for security 
reasons. 
 
Although counter-terrorism efforts have succeeded in 
diminishing terrorist capabilities in Saudi Arabia, terrorist 
groups continue to target housing compounds, hotels, methods 
of transportation, and commercial establishments where 
Westerners can be found.  Saudi Government facilities are 
also targets as demonstrated by the December 29,2004 
attempted bombing of the Ministry of Interior.  In addition 
to car bombs and armed assaults involving multiple gunmen 
against such facilities, terrorists have also used ambush 
attacks to kidnap and/or assassinate individual Westerners. 
 
These incidents argue strongly that U.S. citizens in Saudi 
Arabia should maintain a low profile, keep travel to a 
minimum, vary travel routes and times, and treat any mail 
from unfamiliar sources with suspicion.  American citizens 
are also cautioned to remain alert and aware of their 
surroundings while moving about the city. 
 
¶9.  The Embassy approves the use of computers, laptops, and 
digital cameras at post in accordance with 12 FAM 600 
established regulations.  Stand-alone use of laptops will be 
allowed with the standard caveat that nothing be connected to 
DOS systems.   Computers, laptops and digital cameras must 
stay outside of CAA areas.  Prior notification of the use of 
cameras must be approved by the RSO.  It should be noted that 
Saudi law, especially as it is interpreted in the capital of 
Riyadh, rigidly controls photography.  We strongly urge 
 
visitors to avoid taking photographs in any public place 
without the express and prior involvement of the RSO. 
 
¶10.  Visas:  Visitors are also reminded that valid visas for 
Saudi Arabia are required at all times.  Travelers are 
advised that submitting passports to the Saudi authorities 
that contain Israeli visas or evidence of travel to Israel 
may result in difficulties securing a Saudi visa or gaining 
entry to the Kingdom.  Official travelers to Saudi Arabia 
should request a two-year, multiple-entry visa from the 
nearest Saudi Embassy or Consulate. 
 
¶11.  Passports:  Visitors are reminded to keep a copy of 
their passport with them at all times while in Saudi Arabia 
as it may be needed for identification.  The original should 
be kept in a safe place. 
 
¶12.  Prohibited Items:  Strict Islamic law is the foundation 
of the Kingdom's customs and practices.  The norms for public 
behavior are extremely conservative.  Saudi Arabia outlaws 
the importation, sale or use of alcohol in the Kingdom, and 
visitors must not attempt to bring any alcohol, pork products 
or printed materials that may be construed as pornographic or 
proselytizing into the Kingdom.  Penalties include 
confiscation, fines and may extend to denial of entry. 
 
¶13.  Drugs:  Saudi Arabia strictly prohibits the importation 
of controlled substances, including narcotics, 
methamphetamines, depressants and hallucinogens).  The 
penalty for violation of this law is death. 
 
Prescription drugs in small quantities, clearly labeled, 
should cause no difficulties.  Problems arise when they are 
in large quantities, unlabeled, or lack documentation (such 
as a copy of the prescription), or when they are deemed 
illicit by Saudi authorities.  Many drugs sold in nearby 
countries without a prescription are considered illegal here. 
 Individuals are arrested for possession of these drugs. 
 
¶14.  Dress:  While visiting the Kingdom, women and men should 
dress conservatively.  Guidance issued by the Saudi Embassy 
in Washington states that non-Muslim women are not required 
to wear an abayya, but should dress conservatively (loose 
fitting skirts/dresses that fall well below the knee with 
long sleeves and a high neckline) when in public.  This is 
also the position of the U.S. Embassy. 
 
However, while Embassy personnel are not required to wear the 
abayya and/or hijaab (scarf) on official business, many 
Western women choose to wear the abayya and hijaab while 
conducting their personal affairs in order to avoid unwanted 
attention and/or harassment by the Mutawwa'in (religious 
police).  Upon request, the Embassy will loan female visitors 
abayyas for the duration of their stay in the Kingdom. 
 
It is the policy of the Embassy to support a woman in her 
decision to wear or not wear the abayya and/or hijaab. 
OBERWETTER