VZCZCXYZ0009
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSF #1427/01 2791331
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 061331Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY SOFIA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2664

UNCLAS SOFIA 001427 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
G/TIP FOR MEGAN HALL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OTRA PHUM PREL BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR MEGAN HALL, OCT. 
18-21 
 
REF: STATE 648381 
 
 
¶1.  Embassy Sofia warmly welcomes and grants country 
clearance for G/TIP Reports Officer for Europe Megan Hall to 
visit Sofia, Bulgaria, from 18 through 21 October, 2006. 
Purpose of the visit is to assess recent government efforts 
to combat human trafficking through discussions with Embassy 
officers, government officials, and NGO representatives. 
 
¶2.  All U.S. visitors require a valid passport to enter 
Bulgaria.  Official and diplomatic passports require visas 
regardless of length of stay. 
 
¶3.  Control Officer for this visit is Political and Economic 
Affairs Officer Anna Radivilova.  Contact information for Ms. 
Radivilova follows: (Office) 359-2-937-5276, (Fax) 
359-2-937-5320, (Cell) 359-887-931-418 and (E-mail) 
RadivilovaA@state.gov. 
 
¶4.  Per Diem for Sofia is USD 151.00 (lodging) and USD 82.00 
(M&IE).  As requested in reftel, reservation has been made 
for Ms. Hall at the Grand Hotel Sofia for three consecutive 
nights with check-in on 18 October and checkout on 21 
October.  The rate of $150 / night is for the SD Sofia Deluxe 
Room and is inclusive of taxes, breakfast, use of fitness 
facilities and indoor parking.  Hotel reservation 
confirmation number is 48114.  The Grand Hotel Sofia will 
accept payment via US Dollars, Euros, Visa, American Express, 
Diner's Club, JCB and Master Card.  The Grand Hotel Sofia is 
located at 1 Gurko Street in Sofia and can be reached via 
(Tel): 359-2-811-0810, (Fax): 359-2-811-0900 and (E-mail) 
reservations@grandhotelsofia.bg 
 
¶5.  The Control Officer and driver will meet passenger at the 
Sofia airport upon arrival on Wednesday, 18 October at 15:25. 
 
¶6.  A draft schedule for meetings and briefings will be sent 
separately. 
 
¶7.  The address of the American Embassy in Sofia is 16 Kozyak 
Street, 1407 Sofia (in the Lozenetz district).  The 
switchboard telephone number is: 359-2-937-5100, the general 
fax is:  359-2-937-5320 and, for emergencies, the telephone 
number for the Marine Security Guard on duty is: 
359-2-937-5200. 
 
¶8.  If travelers wish to access their State Department e-mail 
accounts or work on an embassy computer while in Sofia, they 
need to know their home office exchange server data and 
domain name in order to establish a temporary account.  With 
this information, Sofia IPC can initiate an account within a 
few hours after receiving signed request forms once travelers 
are in Sofia.  Please note:  While in Sofia, visitors will 
not be able to log on, or have access to State Department 
systems and/or intranet without establishing their own 
temporary Sofia account. 
 
¶9.  Customs declaration requirement:  Bulgarian law requires 
that travelers entering Bulgaria with more than 8,000 
Bulgarian Leva (approximately USD $5,300.00), or the 
equivalent in foreign currency, travelers checks, gems, gold 
or silver, must declare the money, checks and/or valuables to 
customs officials upon arrival.  Those entering Bulgaria at 
Sofia airport with declarable items should use the red 
("something to declare") line and not the green ("nothing to 
declare") line, even if specifically invited into the green 
line by a customs official.  Travelers who do not declare 
this currency or valuables in excess of 8,000.00 Bulgarian 
Leva may have their money and property confiscated. 
 
¶10.  Sofia currently has a high criminal threat designation. 
Commercial air travelers should be aware that pilferage of 
luggage is common at Sofia airport; no valuable items should 
be included in checked baggage.  Embassy recommends using 
only OK Taxi Company (973-2121), if possible.  Other taxis 
may charge exorbitant rates, both legal and illegal. 
Pickpockets are especially prevalent in public places and 
auto theft is increasing. 
 
¶11.  Bulgaria is largely a cash economy.  Most shops and 
restaurants still do not accept traveler's checks or credit 
cards.  For expenses, post strongly recommends obtaining 
dollars in clean new bills; old, torn and defaced bills are 
often not accepted for exchange.  Personal checks can be 
cashed at the embassy cashier.  The embassy has an automatic 
teller machine on site that works with most American teller 
cards.  Money exchange offers by individuals outside exchange 
offices or banks should be avoided.  Due to pervasive fraud, 
the use of credit cards is not/not recommended in Bulgaria 
outside of the top international hotels. 
 
 
 
¶12.  Telephone rates for all international calls are 
expensive.  A ten-minute call to the United States is 
approximately USD 40.00 not inclusive of additional hotel 
surcharge.  Travelers may prefer U.S. (or locally purchased) 
telephone calling cards that offer reduced prices (i.e., MCI 
cards offer .99 - 1.10 USD/min). 
 
¶13.  Medical emergencies can be handled at one or two 
facilities that are equipped with modern equipment, and an 
embassy Foreign Service Nurse Practitioner (FSNP) can provide 
a range of routine services for travelers on government TDY 
orders.  An adequate supply of routinely taken medication 
should be brought to post since many specialty items are not 
available. 
 
¶14.  Electronic devices:  privately owned laptops and 
personal computers, peripherals, diskettes and tapes are 
prohibited in the Controlled Access Area (CAA) of the 
mission.  Travelers with USG unclassified and classified 
laptop or notebook computers, peripherals and diskettes or 
tapes should review 95 State 244394 (classified machines) and 
95 State 243825 (unclassified machines) and notify the 
regional security office (RSO) before bringing these machines 
to post.  RSO approval must be obtained before any electronic 
device may be brought into the CAA.  Cellular phones are also 
prohibited in the CAA and must be left outside.  Questions 
concerning other types of electronic devices and magnetic 
media may be directed to the RSO. 
BEYRLE 
BEYRLE