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Neel, James P

Heading: /Riyadh 638 UNCLASSIFIED ROUTINE

SUBJECT: RIYADH COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR STAFF OF THE NATIONALCOMMISSION ON TERRORIST ATTACKS UPON THE UNITED STATES

REF: STATE 23861

1 . Mission welcomes the visit of National Commission onTerrorist Attacks upon the United States staff membersDietrich Snell and Rajesh De and grants country clearancefor Saudi Arabia, February 23 - 26, 2004, for purposes outlinedin reftel. M has approved this travel to Saudi Arabia while postis under authorized departure status.

2. Control Officer for the visit is Political Officer MatthewTueller, office telephone: 966-1-488-3800 ext. 4237; mobilephone no: 966-5-525-2855; e-mail TuellerMH@state.gov. Hotelarrangements have been made at Riyadh Palace and are withinthe per diem rate. Hotel phone number is: 01 1-966-1-405-4444fax number is: 01 1-966-1-405-3725

3. The following is standard guidance for official travel toSaudi Arabia:

A. Entry: Visas are required for all travelers entering SaudiArabia. It is becoming considerably more difficult to enterSaudi Arabia without a valid visa and those visitors whoarrive without a visa will be directed by this Consulate andSaudi Immigration officials to immediately fly back out ofthe Kingdom until a new visa is obtained. We ask that allofficial travelers o Saudi Arabia request a two-year,multiple-entry visa from the Saudi Embassy or Consulate.

^Travelers, who have entered the Kingdom on a previous visa,lould ensure their visa is a multiple entry visa and should

ensure the visa has not expired. If it has expired or if thevisa was for a single entry, you must obtain a new visa. Ifyou are not certain that you have the correct visa, pleasefax a copy of it to the Embassy Riyadh Human Resourcesoffice for review. The Fax number in HR is 966-1-488-7765.Any overtime required by the Embassy duty officer, expediter,drivers, or others will be charged directly to the traveler.

Embassy Riyadh direct charges each office, agency andvisiting delegation for all costs incurred in support ofofficial travel. These costs include American and foreignservice national employees' overtime, holiday pay and premiumpay as applicable, field travel by Embassy personnel,transportation costs, vehicle rental, telephone installationand service, cell phone rentals and telephone calls,equipment rental, printing expenses, and any other costs thatcan be directly attributed to the visit

B. Security: On May 12, 2003, Al Qaeda conducted a majorterrorist attack in Riyadh, detonating three large vehiclebombs inside three western housing compounds. Anotherex-patriate housing compound was attacked by terrorists onNovember 8, 2003. The Embassy continues to receive newinformation suggesting that additional terrorist actionsagainst both official and unofficial U.S. and westerninterests in Saudi Arabia remain possible. These reports arecause for concern and reinforce the need for continuedvigilance and alertness.

May 12, there have been incidents in which explosive/ices were placed under vehicles driven by Westerners. In

itfo incidents in 2002, the devices detonated killing the

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states that non-Muslim women are not required to wear anabayya, but should dress conservatively (loose fittingdresses that cover well below the knee with long sleeves anda high neckline) when in public. This is also the positionof the Embassy and Consulates. However, some western women,particularly those living in the Riyadh area and in the moreconservative central region, wear an abayya when in publicplaces on personal business, and carry a head scarf in orderto avoid harassment by the religious police known as themutawwa'in. However, even with the abayya andscarf, harassment still occurs.

The Embassy will support women in whatever personal choicethey make on the issue of wearing or not wearing an abayya orheadscarf.

I. Motorpool support for "Other Authorized Use": Allpersonnel (male or female) in an official Temporary Dutystatus will be provided "other authorized use" local areatransportation, as available, for the duration of theirassignment at Post on a fee-per-trip basis, at a flat rate ofSR 10 per trip, to be paid for by purchasing a SR 200transportation trip ticket from the cashier. Post sponsor is

responsible for obtaining the trip tickets in advance ofcashier closure and will be reimbursed by visitors on TOY.

J. Embassy visitors are reminded to keep their passports with

them at all times while in Saudi Arabia as they may be neededfor identification.OBERWETTER

UNCLASSIFIED

Additional Addresses:

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drivers, while, in the third case, also in 2002, the devicefailed to explode. There have been no reports of suchbombings thus far in 2003. However, American citizens inSaudi Arabia should avoid leaving their vehicles unattended.If left unattended, the vehicle should be locked and athorough inspection of the vehicle, both interior andexterior, should be made before the vehicle is driven. Ifunfamiliar objects are discovered attached to or in thevicinity of your vehicle leave the area and immediatelynotify authorities. Under no circumstances should you toucha suspicious object

Additionally, over the last year, there have been several

shootings targeting Westerners throughout Saudi Arabia. Inthe Spring of 2003, a British national was killed when he was

hit by automatic rifle fire while stopped at a stoplight inRiyadh. In the most recent incident on July 16, a privateAmerican citizen residing in Riyadh was fired at while on theroof of his home adjusting his satellite antenna.

These incidents argue strongly that U.S. citizens in SaudiArabia should maintain a low profile, keep travel to aminimum, vary travel routes and times, and treat any mailfrom unfamiliar sources with suspicion. American citizensare also cautioned to remain alert and aware of theirsurroundings while driving or riding. Contact the RegionalSecurity Officer (RSO) upon arrival for more information.

C. Religion: Travelers should be aware that Islamic law isthe foundation of the Kingdom's conservative customs andpractices. The norms for public behavior are extremelyconservative.

D. Medical: The Department of State medical unit recommendsvaccination against meningitis for all visitors to SaudiArabia. All employees, including WAEs and Civil Service'mployees, who are in TOY status for more than 60 days

.cumulatively) in a calendar year are required to haveup-to-date medical clearances from the Office of MedicalServices at Class 1 or Class 2 levels in order to receivefull State Department medical benefits (3 FAM 1931.3, c,e).E. Drugs: Saudi Arabia has strict penalties for violators ofits narcotics laws. Prescription drugs in small quantities,clearly labeled, should cause no difficulties. Problemsarise when they are in large quantities, unlabeled, lackdocumentation (such as a copy of the prescription), or whenthey are deemed illicit by Saudi authorities. Many drugssold in nearby countries without a prescription areconsidered illegal in the Kingdom. Individuals may bearrested for possession of these drugs.

F. Customs: Saudi Arabia completely outlaws the importation,sale or use of alcohol, pork or pornographic materials in theKingdom. Visitors should not bring any alcoholic beverages,pork products or printed materials that may be construed aspornographic in their personal luggage.

G. Dress: Men and women should dress in a conservative manner

when in public. In particular men should wear pants andavoid shorts and sleeveless shirts. Women should dressconservatively. Dresses and skirts should be well below theknee with long sleeves and women shouldalso avoid wearing trousers.

H. The abayya: Embassy and Consulate women do not wearabayyas (black neck to ankle cover-up) when out on official

smess, and women TOY visitors when on official businessso should not expected to wear one.

The guidance issued by the Saudi Embassy in Washington D.C.2

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