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Viewing cable 06ANKARA321, COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR DRL/IRF STAFF MEMBER

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06ANKARA321 2006-01-27 15:39 2011-08-24 01:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Ankara
VZCZCXYZ0045
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAK #0321/01 0271539
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 271539Z JAN 06
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2767
INFO RUEHSF/AMEMBASSY SOFIA PRIORITY 0976
RUEHTI/AMEMBASSY TIRANA PRIORITY 0229
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 9680
UNCLAS ANKARA 000321 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OTRA PHUM AL BU TU
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR DRL/IRF STAFF MEMBER 
MICHAEL MATES TO TRAVEL TO TURKEY FEBRUARY 20-25, 2006 
 
REF: STATE 08957 
 
1. (U) Mission welcomes and grants country clearance to 
DRL/IRF Desk Officer Michael Mates to travel to Ankara and 
Istanbul February 20 - 25, 2006.  The purpose of the visit is 
to meet religious leaders and NGOs and advocate for USG 
positions regarding religious freedom with host government 
officials. 
 
2. (U) The point of contact for the visit in Ankara is 
Political Officer Philip Kaplan who can be reached through 
the embassy switchboard at (90)(312) 455-5555 extension 0, 24 
hours a day.  The point of contact at the American Consulate 
in Istanbul is Political Officer Alicia Allison who can be 
reached through the consulate switchboard at (90) (212) 
335-9000 extension 0.  Additional scheduling and logistical 
information will be forwarded in separate communication. 
 
3. (U) Visas:  All Americans traveling to Turkey must have a 
valid visa.  Travelers on tourist passports without a visa 
can obtain a visa valid for one entry/three months at port of 
entry upon payment of a USD 20 fee.  This fee is payable only 
in U.S. dollars cash.  Travelers on diplomatic passports must 
obtain their visa prior to travel.  There is no fee for 
official travel if the visa is obtained outside of Turkey. 
 
4. (U) Health Safety:  Information on vaccinations and other 
health precautions can be obtained from the Center for 
Disease Control and Prevention hotline for international 
travelers (tel: 1-877-394-747); fax 1-800-232-3299; or via 
the internet at HTTP//www.cdc.gov. 
 
5. (U) Security Assessment:  In the aftermath of Operation 
Iraqi Freedom (OIF) there continues to be the potential for 
both transnational and indigenous terrorist groups to target 
U.S. interests in Turkey.  After the Gulf War, the 
predecessor to the Turkish Terrorist Group Revolutionary 
People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C) assassinated four 
Americans in Turkey and carried out numerous bombings of U.S. 
targets (mostly private sector businesses, although two 
rockets were directed toward the Consulate General in 
Istanbul). Subsequent to the ending of OIF hostilities, there 
have been isolated terrorist bombings attributed to DHKP/C 
and other indigenous terrorist groups in protest of OIF. 
Other Turkish terrorist groups with anti-Western sympathies 
include Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (MLKP), Turkish 
Communist Party/Marxist Leninist (TKP/ML), Turkish Workers 
and Peasants Revolutionary Army (TIKKO) and Islamic Greater 
Eastern Raiders/Front (IBDA/C). 
 
Al-Qa'ida threats to target U.S. facilities in Turkey have 
been public knowledge for some time.  On November 15, two 
synagogues in Istanbul were the targets of suicide car bombs. 
On November 20, 2003, the British Consulate General and the 
London-based HSBC bank in Istanbul were damaged by powerful 
explosions, killing dozens and wounding hundreds.  These 
incidents represent a significant change from prior attacks 
in Turkey, which have previously involved small-scale, random 
bombings and small numbers of casualties.  The investigations 
of these incidents in Istanbul remain open but transnational 
terrorist links are suspected.  The potential for violence 
and terrorist actions against U.S. citizens and interests 
continue. 
 
The Turkish National Police (TNP) is quite responsive in 
their role as protector of U.S. diplomatic and military 
interests in Turkey.  The TNP has provided enhanced coverage 
at each of our facilities in Ankara, Istanbul, Adana and 
Izmir.  The incidence of crime, both violent and the more 
traditional tourist crimes (pick pocketing, purse-snatching, 
etc.), is relatively low throughout Turkey.  Visitors to 
Istanbul should be aware that tourist-type crimes are more 
prevalent there, especially in the traditionalist tourist 
areas, such as Sultanahmet and Istiklal Caddesi.  The 
security office encourages visitors to report any security 
incidents, including surveillance, to the RSO immediately. 
 
Useful security information about Turkey is available on the 
following websites: 
 
--Embassy Ankara:  HTTP://WWW.USEMB-ANKARA.ORG.TR (Click on 
Security Matters) 
 
--Consulate General Istanbul: 
HTTP://USCONSULATE-ISTANBUL.ORG.TR 
 
6. (U) For further information regarding travel in Turkey, 
consult the consular information sheet.  The consulate 
information sheet and public announcements are available on 
the internet at:  HTTP://TRAVEL.STATE.GOV 
 
 
Other information is available on the following websites: 
 
--The State Department Consular Affairs (CA) websites: 
 HTTP://WWW.TRAVEL.STATE.GOV/TURKEY.HTML 
 
--US Embassy Ankara: 
HTTP://WWW.USEMB-ANKARA.ORG.TR 
WILSON