Armenia Calling Card
H - Europe Overview
The United Kingdom launched aggressive efforts to disrupt and prosecute terrorists. Since December 2001, the Government has detained 15 foreign nationals under its Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act, which allows extended detention of non-British nationals suspected of being international terrorists but who cannot be removed from the country immediately. The Government defeated a legal challenge to the antiterrorism law on appeal after the Special Immigration Appeals Commission ruled the law discriminatory and unlawful. Several other terror suspects also have been arrested and charged with terrorism-related offenses. In February authorities arrested Shaykh Abdullah Ibrahim el-Faisal on charges of inciting racial hatred for remarks he made calling for the murder of nonbelievers, Jews, Americans, and Hindus. He was charged with crimes under the Public Order Act and the Offences Against the Person Act. ... [Read More]
US and Coalition 2001
The UN Security Council approved a resolution calling on all parties in Afghanistan to attend a conference to settle the country's future, urging member states to provide humanitarian aid, and calling for a central role for the UN in the reconstruction process. The UN also authorized member states to provide peacekeeping forces. ... In Britain, Prime Minister Blair addressed the Welsh National Assembly in Cardiff, called the anti-terrorism campaign "a principled conflict," and pledged to use all possible means. Admiral Sir Michael Boyce, Chief of the British Defense Staff, said that the conflict might last three or four years. Brigadier Roger Lane of the Royal Marines recommended that his forces not be sent to Afghanistan until they received additional training and intelligence. ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
Some banks and major hotels accept travelers checks and major credit cards. However, because of heavy fraud and counterfeiting activities, it is not recommended that you use your credit cards in Georgia. Outside of Tbilisi, cash is king. The Embassy cashier handles check cashing (up to $500/day), accepts payment of residential and personal phone bills, and performs accommodation exchange. Competitive rates are also available throughout town. Taxes, Exchange, and Sale of PropertyLast Updated: 3/23/2004 3:36 PM Laws governing the sale of property by diplomats to local nationals require that the nondiplomatic buyer pay duty based on the value of the goods at time of import. All diplomatic, consular, and administrative and technical staff are exempt from all local taxes. Some vendors dis ... [Read More]
02. Management and Organizational Change
Over the 8 years of the Clinton administration, use of the Government Purchase Card for the Department's procurements increased from a limited pilot program to become a major element in domestic and overseas acquisitions. In FY 2000, 900 card holders made over 67,000 purchases totaling $38 million, representing approximately 30 percent of all of the Department's procurement transactions. These purchases were made at a savings of approximately $100 per transaction over slower and less efficient methods, for an estimated FY 2000 savings of $6.7 million. The system allowed Department employees throughout the world to use a Government Purchase Card to procure goods and services from GSA or other suppliers over the Internet. ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
Baku’s telephone system is modernizing, and mobile telephones have become popular and widespread throughout the country. Telephone credit cards are not used in Azerbaijan, but with U.S. calling cards it is easy to place direct calls to the U.S. via access numbers. ... Printed business cards are readily available in Baku in English, Azeri, and Russian. A hundred business cards can cost $35 and could be printed in 24 hours. ... Azerbaijan does not distinguish between categories of Embassy personnel for customs purposes. Each direct-hire employee is entitled to duty-free entry of personal effects, consumables, and one automobile. No restrictions are placed on the age, color, or make of automobiles. The Embassy assists in registering vehicles. A valid U.S. driver’s license and the locally obtained diplomatic identity card are sufficient for driving in Baku. Third party car insurance is mandatory and available locally. Comprehensive insurance is cheaper if purchased in the U.S. ... [Read More]
Immigrant visas
authorized to perform the ministerial or priestly functions of a religious denomination having a bona fide organization within the United States and is stationed abroad pursuant to that calling; or ... After the applicant has informed the Embassy that he/she has collected all the listed documents, a date for the formal interview will be assigned, as soon as possible. The applicant must wait to be notified of this date, without calling nor writing to the Consular Section, except to report an address change or a change in the family status, such as a marriage, a birth, or the death of the petitioner. ... [Read More]
Azerbaijan
During the year, a total of three POWs were released, one from Azerbaijan and two from Armenia.The law prohibits forced exile, and the Government did not employ it. e. Denial of a Fair and Public Trial The Constitution provides for an independent judiciary; however, in practice, judges did not function independently of the executive branch, and the judiciary was widely believed to be corrupt and inefficient. Judges preside over and direct trials. The President appoints Supreme and Constitutional Court judges, whom Parliament confirms. The President appoints lower-level judges without confirmation. Qualifying exams for judges were administered periodically as part of a judicial reform effort; however, credible allegations persisted that judgeships were bought and sold. Low salaries for judges and lawyers increased the incentives for bribe taking and ... [Read More]
Cyprus (07/05)
On April 23, 2003, Mr. Denktash relaxed many restrictions on individuals crossing between the two communities, including abolishing all crossing fees. Since then, the relaxed crossing procedures have led to relatively unimpeded bicommunal contact for the first time since 1974. Since April 2003 there have been over 7,000,000 buffer zone crossings in both directions. Greek Cypriots are currently required to present identity documents at the checkpoints along the buffer zone, something many are reluctant to do. Greek Cypriots are permitted to drive their personal vehicles in the Turkish Cypriot community, provided they first obtain a policy from an insurance provider in the north. Turkish Cypriots are permitted to cross into the government-controlled area upon presentation of a Turkish Cypriot ID card. Turkish Cypriots must also obtain car insurance from an insurer in the south to drive their personal vehicles in the government-controlled area. ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
At agency discretion, those Embassy extensions may also be given access to the international voice Geteway(IVG) which can be used for official calls to the US and other US embassies. After 7 PM daily , mission extensions with IVG access may also be used to access US-based lines so that personal calls can be charged to your personal calling card (ATT,Sprint, MCI etc.) at domestic U.S long distance rates. ... The health unit is housed in the US Embassy. The unit can provide advanced first aid for most medical emergencies, including stabilization after heart attack. There is a physician who maintains visiting hours at the embassy, who is also on call twenty-four hours a day. The doctor, a noted cardiologist, has post-graduate American training and speaks English. ... [Read More]
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