VZCZCXYZ0018
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTU #0271/01 0741534
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 141534Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS
TO RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA PRIORITY 0037
RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 7644
RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO PRIORITY 0036
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR PRIORITY 0322
RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA PRIORITY 0043
RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT PRIORITY 0971
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT PRIORITY 8523
RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4646
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS TUNIS 000271 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR S/CT, AF AND NEA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER ASEC MASS OTRA TU
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE APPROVAL FOR REGIONAL SECURITY 
INITIATVE (RSI) CONFERENCE 
 
¶1. Embassy Tunis grants country clearance and warmly welcomes 
all officials participating in the Trans Sahara RSI 
Conference in Tunis on April 1, 2008. 
 
¶2. Conference Point of Contacts: 
 
a) Embassy Control Officer is Political Officer Susannah 
Cooper.  Phone 216-71-107-306 or 216-71-107-000; Fax: 
216-71-107-090; Post 1: 216-71-107-212; email: 
CooperSE@state.gov. 
 
b) Administrative Support Coordinator is GSO Bill Crummey. 
Phone 216-71-107-450 or 216-71-107-000; Fax: 216-71-107-090; 
Post 1: 216-71-107-212; email: CrummeyWM@state.gov. 
 
¶3. Hotel: Reservations have been made for all participants at 
the Ramada Plaza Tunis.  The room rate is TD 115 (USD 97.50, 
within per diem) and includes breakfast, taxes and WiFi. 
Individual hotel reservations will be adjusted as appropriate 
after participants' travel itineraries are passed to Ms. 
Cooper.  Hotel telephone number: (216) 71-911-100. Fax: (216) 
71-910-041. Website: http://www.ramada.com/hotel/19180.  An 
Embassy Welcome Desk at the hotel will be staffed from 12:00 
- 9:00 p.m. on March 31 and 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on April 
¶2. 
 
¶4. Arrivals: Post will meet and assist arriving participants 
at the airport with Embassy expediter and vehicle, and will 
assist with departure. 
 
¶5. Conference Information: The conference will be held at the 
US Embassy located in the suburb of Berges du Lac.  Post will 
provide transportation from the hotel to the conference site 
and return.  Additional details about the conference and 
logistics are available on Embassy Tunis' classified website: 
www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/tunis/index.cfm. 
 
¶6. Currency Exchange: It is recommended that travelers change 
money at the airport to cover personal expenses at arrival. 
Current exchange rate is approximately USD 1 = TND 1.180. 
Post will provide accommodation exchange and reverse 
accommodation at the conference on April 1 and at the hotel 
the morning of April 2. 
 
¶7. Embassy Tunis' normal workweek is Monday through Friday; 
office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. 
 
¶8. Entry requirements:  a valid passport is required; no visa 
is necessary. 
 
¶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. 
 
¶11. 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. 
 
¶12. 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