VZCZCXRO0780
RR RUEHNZ
DE RUEHWL #0057/01 0172349
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 172349Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
TO RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 0450
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3742
RHMFIUU/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/TSA HQ WASHINGTON DC
RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND 1116
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 0496

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 WELLINGTON 000057 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EAP/ANP - DAN RICCI 
HOMELAND SECURITY FOR TSA HQ, INT'L PROGRAMS, TSA-1,TSA-7 
TSA HQ WASHINGTON DC FOR INT'L PROGRAMS, TSA-1, TSA-7 
 
SIPDIS 
SYDNEY FOR TSA REP PENNY ANDERSON 
 
E.O. 12985:  N/A 
TAGS: KHLS EAIR ASEC PTER OTRA NZ
SUBJECT:  COOK ISLANDS COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR DHS/TSA SPECIALIST 
KAREN LEE TITHERINGTON, FEBRUARY 5-10, 2007 
 
REF:  06 SINGAPORE 3831 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Embassy welcomes and grants country clearance to Karen Lee 
Titherington, DHS/TSA, to travel to Rarotonga, Cook Islands, from 
February 5 - 10, 2007.  The purpose of this visit is to conduct 
airport and air carrier station assessments/inspections. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Embassy point of contact is Economic Officer Tom Walsh. 
Contact details are as follows: 
 
Office:  644-462-6182 
Fax:     644-472-3537 
Cell:    027-446-4467 
E-mail:  WalshTJ@state.gov 
 
Cook Islands points of contacts are as follows: 
 
Aukino Tairea 
Secretary of Transport and Deputy Director of Civil Aviation 
 
SIPDIS 
Cook Islands ministry of Transport 
transport@oyster.net.ck 
 
GP (Pira) Wichman 
Commissioner 
Ministry of Police Cook Islands 
National Headquarters 
PO Box 101 
Rarotonga, Cook Islands 
Ph (682)22499, Fax (682)21499 
 
Joseph Ngamata 
Chief Executive 
Airport Authority 
PO Box 90 
Rarotonga, Cook Islands 
Ph (682)25890, Fax (682)25980 
jngamata@airport.gov.ck 
 
Security Assessment 
------------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The Cook Islands is a Parliamentary democracy in free 
association with New Zealand, on which they rely for defense and 
assistance in meeting low-level security threats.  The Embassy is 
not aware of any specific threats to U.S. facilities or personnel at 
this time in the Cook Islands.  However, in light of the worldwide 
security alert all visitors should heighten their security awareness 
and report any unusual incidents to the Regional Security Office at 
the Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand (telephone (64)(4)462-6000, 
24 hours/day). 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the 
U.S. and the 2002 and 2005 terrorist bombings in Bali, there has 
been concern that terrorists might seek to take advantage of the low 
level of security maintained in small island states such as the Cook 
Islands in order to target tourists in previously safe destinations. 
 New Zealand has worked with the Cook Islands to improve airport 
security in response to this possibility. 
 
¶5.  (U) As a result of recent military action in Iraq, there is a 
potential for retaliatory actions to be taken against U.S. citizens 
and interests throughout the world.  Public demonstrations carry the 
potential for precipitating violence directed at American citizens. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) U.S. Government facilities worldwide remain at a 
heightened state of alert and some have drawn down their dependents 
and/or personnel.  These facilities may temporarily close or suspend 
public services from time to time for security reasons.  In those 
instances, U.S. embassies and consulates will make every effort to 
provide emergency services to American citizens.  Monitor the local 
news and maintain contact with the nearest American Embassy or U.S. 
Consulate. 
 
¶7.  (U) Crime:  Appropriate common sense precautions should be 
taken, especially at night, to avoid becoming a target of 
opportunity. 
 
¶8.  (U) Weather:  Severe cyclones present a threat during the 
hurricane season; however, this is generally only from November to 
March. 
 
 
WELLINGTON 00000057  002 OF 002 
 
 
Keegan