VZCZCXYZ0008
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSF #0721/01 3191212
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 141212Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY SOFIA
TO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5544
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 0289
RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST 0210

UNCLAS SOFIA 000721 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: OTRA BU
SUBJECT:  COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR LUKAS KOHLER AND MATHEW 
HAARSAGER 
 
REF: DTG: 131743Z NOV 08 
 
¶1. Embassy warmly welcomes and grants country clearance for Mr. 
Lukas Kohler and Mr. Mathew Haarsager, from November 15 - 17, 2008. 
The purpose of this visit is to hold discussions with Bulgarian 
financial and government officials.  PLEASE NOTE: a Visa is required 
for official and diplomatic visitors, regardless of length of stay. 
 
¶2. Point of contact for this visit is Kelly Adams-Smith, who may be 
reached at +359 2 937-5220 office; +359 886-000-266 mobile, e-mail: 
AdamsSmithKE@state.gov. 
 
¶3. All cleared U.S. citizens on official business, who will be in 
Bulgaria longer than two weeks, must contact the Regional Security 
Office at 359-2-937-5316 upon arrival in Bulgaria. 
 
¶4. The U.S. Embassy office building is located at 16 Kozyak Street, 
1407 Sofia (in the Lozenets district). The Embassy telephone number 
is 359-2-937-5100; the general fax number is 359-2-937-5320. 
 
¶5. Per diem for Sofia is USD 151.00 (lodging) and USD 82.00 (M&IE). 
 
¶6. All Department of State issued Global ID (GLID) badges are 
accepted at Post. If visitor has a GLID badge, they are encouraged 
to bring it with them to Post, but should be prepared to show 
additional ID before being allowed on compound. 
 
¶7. Important Travel Information: All U.S. visitors require a valid 
U.S. passport to enter Bulgaria. Official and diplomatic passports 
do/do require visas regardless of length of stay. Tourist/tourist 
passports do not require a visa for visits of less than thirty days. 
All foreigners entering Bulgaria are required to declare the purpose 
of their visit and the address where they intend to stay. The 
declaration card will be issued either on the airplane before 
arrival, or at the point of entry. 
 
¶8. Computer access at Embassy: 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 
(around USD 5,000) 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. Travelers entering 
Bulgaria with any amount of cut or uncut gems, un-worked gold or 
silver, must also declare these valuables. Americans intending to 
declare money or valuables who enter Bulgaria through Sofia Airport 
are strongly encouraged to use the red, Something to Declare, line 
and not the green, Nothing to Declare, line at Customs, even if 
specifically invited into the green line by a Customs official. The 
Bulgarian government considers entry through the green line to be a 
formal, irrevocable, declaration that the traveler is carrying less 
than the allowable amount, and Customs authorities have sometimes 
confiscated travelers' entire funds if they are carrying undeclared 
cash in excess of the allowed amount. Travelers should also declare 
jewelry, cameras, computers, and other valuables upon arrival in 
order to avoid difficulties when departing. 
 
¶10. Electronic devices: Privately owned laptops and personal 
computers, peripherals, diskettes and tapes are prohibited in the 
controlled access area (CAA) of the Embassy. Travelers with USG 
unclassified and classified laptop or notebook computers, 
peripherals and diskettes and tapes should notify the Regional 
Security Office before bringing this equipment 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 this area in one of the lockers. Questions concerning 
other types of electronic devices and magnetic media may be directed 
to the RSO. 
 
¶11. Crime and Safety: Sofia currently has a high criminal threat 
designation, although most crime involving visitors does not involve 
violence or the threat of violence. Pickpockets are especially 
prevalent in public places, and auto theft is increasing. Moreover, 
commercial air travelers should be aware that pilferage of luggage 
does sometimes occur at Sofia airport. Therefore, no valuable items 
should be included in checked baggage. Embassy recommends using only 
OK Taxi Company (937-2121). For more detailed information, please 
review the Embassy's Crime and Safety Report on the web at 
www.usembassy.bg. To advise personnel about ways to protect 
themselves and their valuables while in Bulgaria, the RSO requires 
that TDY personnel who are staying in Bulgaria longer than two (2) 
weeks attend a security briefing. The briefing is conducted every 
 
Thursday at 3:00 p.m. 
 
¶12. Payment and Currency: Bulgaria is largely a cash economy. Most 
shops and restaurants still do not accept travelers' checks and 
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 may be cashed at the 
embassy cashier. Exchange bureaus provide ready exchange of foreign 
currency at competitive rates. Money exchange offers by individuals 
outside exchange offices or banks should be avoided, as they are 
often a dodge to pass counterfeit currency, or a set-up for robbery. 
Due to pervasive fraud and theft of card numbers, the use of credit 
cards (other than at major hotels) or ATM machines (other than the 
machine located inside the Embassy) is not recommended in Bulgaria. 
PLEASE NOTE: All visitors staying 30 days or more should view 
Sofia's TDY policy, which is found at 
http://internet.sofia.state.gov/sections/fmo/ ICASS.htm. 
 
¶13. Telephones: Rates for international telephone calls are 
expensive. A ten-minute call to the United States is approximately 
USD 40.00. Travelers may prefer U.S. or locally purchased calling 
cards that offer reduced rates. 
 
¶14. Health care: Medical emergencies can be handled at one or two 
facilities that are equipped with modern equipment, and the Embassy 
Health Practitioner can provide routine services for travelers on 
TDY orders. Travelers should bring an adequate supply of routinely 
taken medication since these may not be available locally. 
 
MCELDOWNEY