VZCZCXYZ0006
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTU #0265 0740704
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140704Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4637
INFO RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 1364

UNCLAS TUNIS 000265 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PLEASE PASS H FOR CODEL BOEHNER 
STATE ALSO FOR NEA/MAG (HARRIS) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OREP AMGT ASEC TS JO
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE TO TUNISIA GRANTED FOR CODEL BOEHNER 
 
REF: STATE 25454 
 
¶1. Embassy Tunis grants country clearance and warmly welcomes 
Senator John Boehner and accompanying members of CODEL Boehner to 
Tunisia from March 25-27, 2008. 
 
¶2. Points of contact for the visit are Political Officer Trina Saha 
and Cultural Affairs Officer Ellen Bienstock.  Contact information 
for Ms. Saha is as follows: Phone: 216-71-107-362 or 216-71-107-000; 
Fax: 
216-71-107-090; Cell: 216-20-354-536; Home: 216-71-752-101; 
email: sahatd@state.gov.  Contact information for Ms. Bienstock is 
as follows: Phone: 216-71-107-281 or 216-71-107-000; Fax: 
216-71-963-263; Cell: 216-20-541-102; Home: 216-71-964-878; 
email: bienstockes@state.gov. 
 
 
¶3. Post will meet and assist at the airport with Embassy expeditor 
and vehicles. 
 
¶4. Reservations have been made for CODEL Boehner at the Les Berges 
du Lac Concorde Hotel, Rue du Lac Turkana, 1053 Tunis, Tunisia. 
Room rate for single rooms is USD 119, including breakfast, taxes 
and Internet.  Hotel Phone: (216) 71-961-951. Fax: (216) 71-961-952. 
Website: 
tunis.concorde-hotels.com/en/. 
 
¶5. The Embassy will provide accommodation exchange on arrival. 
Current approximate exchange rate is USD 1 equals 1.180 Tunisian 
Dinars. 
 
¶6. Embassy Tunis' normal workweek is Monday through Friday; office 
hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.  Tunisian Government offices are 
closed on Friday afternoon. 
 
¶7. Entry requirements:  a valid passport is required; no visa is 
necessary. 
 
¶8. Post requests that security clearance of personnel escorting the 
Members of Congress be forwarded as soon as possible. 
 
¶9. Travelers with private or U.S. Government (USG) owned electronic 
devices including laptops, peripherals, diskettes, tapes, and other 
media, must receive RSO/ISSO authorization before these items can be 
allowed into Embassy facilities.  Classified computers must be sent 
to post via the classified diplomatic pouch, or be hand carried by a 
non-professional diplomatic courier.  All classified equipment must 
bear external USG bar-coded inventory numbers and classification 
marking commensurate with the highest level of information processed 
on the system.  Cellular/mobile phones and palm-pilots are 
prohibited in Controlled Access Areas.  Questions concerning other 
types of electronic devices and magnetic media may be directed to 
the ISSO or RSO.  Electricity in Tunisia is 220 Volts. 
 
¶10. Security/Crime Information: Tunisia is a moderate Arab country 
that has traditionally enjoyed peace and stability.  However, in 
light of the September 11 attacks in the United States and in view 
of the ongoing violence in Israel, the West Bank, Gaza and elsewhere 
in the Middle East region, the American Embassy reminds visitors to 
maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to 
increase their security awareness.  While the Government of Tunisia 
has and will continue to make every effort to protect foreigners, 
visitors should avoid large crowds and crowded public areas and keep 
in regular contact with the Embassy. 
 
¶11. Tunisian security forces are omnipresent and generally ensure 
public order.  Low level, non-violent property crimes of opportunity 
are relatively common.  Pickpockets and purse-snatchers are common 
in areas with high volume tourist traffic, such as the Tunis Medina 
(old city) and central market.  It is prudent to exercise normal 
travel security precautions and maintain a low profile as one would 
in any major U.S. city.  This should help to ensure an incident-free 
visit. 
GODEC