VZCZCXYZ0013
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNC #0115/01 0431408
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 121408Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY NICOSIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9618
INFO RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 0465
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 5371
RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 4127
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0045
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 4325
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0294
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 2139
RUEHKU/AMEMBASSY KUWAIT 0962
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 1972
RUEHSF/AMEMBASSY SOFIA 0635
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 6470
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 1932
RUEOFAA/COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1348
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHEFNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUFGSOC/COMSOCEUR VAIHINGEN GE
RUCJICS/COMSOCCENT MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS NICOSIA 000115 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR, S/CT (WORMAN & INGALLS), ANKARA 
(REYNOLDS), ATHENS (PURCELL), NEA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER PREL ASEC CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS: LOGISTICS FOR FEBRUARY 23 IRAQ AND 
NEIGHBORS AND FEBRUARY 24 EASTERN MED RSI REVIEWS 
 
REF: AMBASSADOR'S FEBRUARY 6 IRAQ AND NEIGHBORS AND 
     EASTERN MED RSI INVITATION LETTERS AND 
     AGENDAS 
 
¶1.  (U) Embassy Nicosia, in conjunction with the State 
Department's Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism 
(S/CT), is honored to host the February 23 Iraq and Neighbors 
and the February 24 Eastern Mediterranean Regional Strategic 
Initiative (RSI) reviews. We will do our best to make your 
stay with us and the RSI reviews a success. This cable 
contains logistical information for participants, including 
lodging and transportation arrangements and conference costs. 
Ref message provided background on RSI and a brief rollout of 
the substantive discussion expected at the upcoming review. 
 
¶2.  (U) Embassy Nicosia's control officer for the RSI review 
is Christopher Panico (PanicoCJ@state.sgov.gov; phone 
357-22-39-3531/cell 357-99-460836). Points of contact for 
Iraq and Neighbors are Regional Affairs Officer Elizabeth 
Ingalls S/CT (email: IngallsEN@state.gov; phone 202-647-0251) 
and RSI Coordinator Carol Reynolds (ReynoldsCT@state.gov; 
phone IVG 295-7266).  The Eastern Med points of contact are 
S/CT Patrick Worman (WormanPF@state.gov phone 
202-647-9390)and Eastern Mediterranean Regional CT Officer 
Alan Purcel (PurcellAS@state.gov) Please copy Chris Panico 
and Embassy Nicosia Political Section Office Manager Anita 
Aguasvivas (AguasvivasA@state.gov/AguasvivasAM@state.sgov.gov 
(unclass/class) on all logistics-related email traffic. 
 
¶3. (U) All participants other than DOD must send e-country 
clearance requests with detailed arrival/departure 
information to Embassy Nicosia directly, or via S/CT for 
Embassy Nicosia for interagency participants.  We ask that 
you send eCC requests as soon as possible to facilitate our 
providing services to participants.  DOD members should 
submit their eCC requests via APACS. 
 
¶4. (U) S/CT will provide funding for the travel expenses of 
participants from posts, to include the chief of mission or 
his/her designate, plus one additional representative. 
Please note that posts should send information on plane and 
hotel costs to John D. (Dave) Palmer (PalmerLD@state.gov) and 
Leon Coates (CoatesLD@state.gov) in S/CT in order to receive 
fund cites to cover these expenses.  To cover incidental 
conference costs, Embassy Nicosia will collect a fee of 75 
USD per participant, as was charged at prior RSI reviews. 
 
¶5.  (U) Lodging:  The Embassy has secured a bloc of hotel 
rooms at the Hilton Park hotel in Nicosia (tel: 
357-22-69-5111, 357-22-69-5209 (fax) at a special room rate 
of 115 euros per night(approximately 150 USD). The rate 
includes breakfast and taxes (please note that there are two 
Hilton-affiliated hotels in Nicosia.  The Hilton Park is 
located on Grivas Digenis Avenue, a short distance from the 
Embassy). 
 
¶6. (U) Making Hotel Reservations: Each participant, however, 
must make his own individual reservations by sending the 
following information to the Hilton Park Hotel by fax/e-mail 
below if you have not already done so: 
 
-Title(Mr., Mrs., Ms.) First and Last name 
-Email address 
-Phone and fax numbers 
-Date/Time of Arrivals and Departures along with Flight 
details 
-Credit Card number, Expiration date, and signature (specify 
if card is: AMEX, VISA, MASTERCARD, or EUROCARD 
-Accompanying person (if applicable) 
-Choice of accommodation: 
  (1) Hilton Guest Room Single or 
  (2) Hilton Guest Room Double 
 
The Hilton Park is aware of the bloc reservation, please send 
information to: Elena Dimosthenous/Hilton Park Hotel; fax 
357-22-695013; e-mail Elena.Dimosthenous@hilton.com. 
 
¶7. (U) Registration Room:  There will be a registration room 
open at the hotel during peak participant arrival times on 
February 22nd and 23rd, where you will be able to receive 
welcome information and pay your $75.00 conference fee. For 
those arriving at other times, these same services will be 
provided the morning of both RSIs (February 23 and 24). The 
registration room will be staffed by Embassy Nicosia staff as 
well as by Regional S/CT officers. 
 
¶8.  (U) Communications during RSI:  There will be OpenNet 
access for participants with active State Department OpenNet 
accounts on a limited number of computers at the Embassy 
during working hours. All non-DOS participants will have 
internet access, again on a limited number of computers. 
These services will be available in the Embassy 2nd Floor 
conference room. 
 
Classified network access will be problematic.  The Embassy 
recommends that urgent classified communications be sent via 
classified e-mail to our Executive section OMS at the 
following address: ValentineMD@state.sgov.gov. 
 
The Embassy will also provide a small bank of telephones in 
the Embassy 2nd Floor conference room for official use during 
breaks.  Again, if there are urgent messages for RSI 
participants, the Embassy recommends calling the AMB OMS at 
 357 22 39-3956. 
 
¶9.  (U) Visa Requirements for Cyprus and Point of Arrival: 
Americans traveling to Cyprus on a TDY basis are not required 
to obtain entry visas, even if traveling on official or 
diplomatic passports.  USG travelers on official orders 
and/or using diplomatic passports are not allowed to use 
Ercan Airport in the Turkish Cypriot-administered area. 
Please only enter in airports in ROC-controlled areas. 
 
¶10. (U) Transportation to/from Airport and Hotel for 
Ambassadors or Charg d' Affaires, A/S level participants, 
and military: RSO will provide transport to/from airport and 
hotel for all Ambassadors/Charg d' Affaires and A/S level 
participants. DAO will provide transport to/from airport and 
hotel for all military personnel. Please look for Embassy 
staff with an "RSI" sign immediately after passport control 
but before baggage pick-up. We will schedule your departure 
transportation during the RSI review. 
 
¶11. U) Transportation to/from Airport and Hotel for all other 
participants: Given limited Post resources, we cannot provide 
Embassy transport for you. To facilite your travel, however, 
Embassy staff identified by an "RSI" sign will greet all 
participants during peak arrival hours on Feb 22nd and 23rd, 
immediately after passport control but before baggage pick-up 
to assist you with finding a taxi. Taxis are safe and 
reliable and cost between 35-50 euro depending on arrival 
time. Taxis can be ordered at your hotel for departure. 
 
¶12.  (U) Ground Transportation in Nicosia:  The Embassy will 
provide a shuttle bus to/from the Hilton Park and the 
Chancery twice a day (morning and evening) on February 23 and 
¶24.  We will also provide an additional shuttle bus from the 
Hilton Park to the Chancery early in the evening on February 
23 for Eastern Mediterranean RSI participants to attend the 
RSI cocktail. A shuttle bus schedule will be included in your 
registration material, and embassy staff will be in the lobby 
of the Hilton Park with an "RSI" sign to assist you to the 
bus during departure. 
 
¶13.  (U) Security:  Cyprus is considered a high-threat post 
with a low crime rate.  All official travelers to Cyprus are 
encouraged to review security briefing material available in 
the Regional Security Office upon arrival at Post. 
Department of State employees should bring their Global ID 
and/or Smart Card that will permit full access to the 
compound.  Employees of other agencies and departments should 
bring their respective USG identification.  We expect there 
will be one UK national in attendance as well. 
 
¶14.  (U) General:  Hygienic conditions in Cyprus are similar 
to those in the United States, and a wide array of goods and 
services are available here.  Visitors should be aware that 
international telephone rates, especially from hotels, are 
expensive.  English is widely spoken and understood on the 
island.  The host government has designated Larnaca and Pafos 
airports as authorized points of entry into the Republic of 
Cyprus. Cyprus is a member of the Eurozone.  ATMs are readily 
available throughout the country, and currency exchange is 
available in major hotels. 
 
Urbancic