Bulgaria Airline
Europe Overview
European nations worked in close partnership with the United States in the global counterterrorism campaign and have continued to strengthen their legal and administrative ability to take action against terrorists and their supporters, including freezing their assets. The contributions of European countries in sharing intelligence, arresting members of terrorist cells, and interdicting terrorist financing and logistics continued to be vital elements in the war on terrorism. Allies such as France and the United Kingdom were particularly responsive during periods of heightened security, cooperating with United States officials to monitor airline flights of concern. ... [Read More]
Europe and Central Asia
AlbaniaI. Summary Drug trafficking is a significant problem in Albania, which is a major transit country for heroin from Afghanistan and Turkey destined for markets throughout Europe. Organized crime groups use Albania as a transit point for drug and other types of smuggling due to the country’s strategic location, weak police and judicial systems, and porous borders. The most common illegal drugs are heroin, marijuana, and to a lesser extent, cocaine. Heroin is typically transported through the "Balkans Route" of Turkey-Bulgaria-Macedonia-Albania, and on to Italy, Greece and the Netherlands. Cocaine is smuggled from South America, via the United States, Italy, Spain, Greece or the Netherlands, and ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
Most employees arrive in Sofia by plane on Lufthansa — code share partner of the United Airline. Flights on American carriers from the U.S. fly to Frankfurt, Paris, London, Vienna, Zurich, and Munich. From these cities, foreign airlines provide reasonably good connections to Sofia. To avoid possible conflict with the Fly America Act, consider Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, or Vienna as the nearest points to Sofia served by an American carrier. Note that Sofia time is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)/Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) + 2, whereas Yugoslavia and the countries of central and Western Europe are on GMT/UTC + 1. For information about buying European cars and driving to Sofia, see Automobiles and Touring and Outdoor Activities. ... [Read More]
Foreign Entry Requirements
AUSTRALIA - *Passport, Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) or non-electronic label visa, proof of onward or return ticket, and sufficient funds are required. An ETA or non-electronic label visa is required for tourist or business stays of up to 3 months. An ETA is an electronically stored authority to travel to Australia and can be obtained online at www.ETA.immi.gov.au or through participating travel agencies or airlines. Minors not accompanied by a parent or traveling with only one parent need notarized written parental consent from the absent parent(s). AIDS test required for permanent resident visa for applicants age 15 and older; tests taken in the U.S. are acceptable. More information about entry requirements to Australia (including for longer stays) is available on the Embassy of Aus ... [Read More]
Cyprus (07/05)
Cyprus has an open, free-market, services-based economy with some light manufacturing. Cyprus's accession as a full member to the European Union as of May 1, 2004, has been an important milestone in its recent economic development. The Cypriots are among the most prosperous people in the Mediterranean region. Internationally, Cyprus promotes its geographical location as a "bridge" between West and East, along with its educated English-speaking population, moderate local costs, good airline connections, and telecommunications. ... [Read More]
Combating Global Terrorism and Crime
DIRECTOR MUELLER: Well, we have a rather substantial legal attaché office in Mexico, with a number of smaller offices -- in Mexico City and a number of smaller offices throughout Mexico -- FBI agents who are in the legal attaché office have no jurisdiction to operate by themselves within Mexico, and so [they] work with and cooperate with their counterparts. When you have an alert such as we saw over the holiday season, we would be working very closely with our counterparts to ensure that any threat, in this case it was airlines, is thwarted; to make certain that Mexican citizens as well as U.S. citizens on these will flights will fly safely. ... [Read More]
Foreign Entry Requirements
PANAMA - *Passport or proof of U.S. citizenship and photo ID, tourist card or visa, proof of sufficient funds, and onward/return ticket required. Visa and tourist card valid 30 days. Visa issued at Embassy of Panama or one of the Consulates. Tourist card is available from airline serving Panama for $10 fee. Stay can be extended up to 60 days; apply at the main office of Immigration and Naturalization in Panama. Visa requires 1 application form and 1 photo. Allow 1 working day for processing. Departure tax $20 is paid at airport. AIDS test required for persons adjusting visa status while in Panama. For longer stays and additional information regarding travel other than via a commercial air ... [Read More]
The U.S.- European Union Relationship
One of the issues we're working hard to resolve relates to airline passenger information that's essential to our efforts to combat terrorism. We are looking at how to bridge our national security need for information with European concerns about data privacy. This is not an easy issue, and perspective differ on how to strike a balance. Critical to success, however, is that we maintain dialogue and work hard to understand each other's concerns. ... [Read More]
V. Country Narratives -- Countries A through G
Canada is primarily a destination and transit country for women trafficked for the purposes of labor and sexual exploitation. Women and children are trafficked from Central and South America, Eastern Europe, and Asia for sexual exploitation. To a lesser extent, men, women, and children are trafficked for forced labor. There is internal trafficking of Canadians for the sex trade. The majority of foreign victims transiting Canada are bound for the United States. Numbers are hard to gauge, but in February 2004, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) estimated that 800 persons are trafficked into Canada annually and that an additional 1,500-2,200 persons are trafficked through Canada into the United States. Some estimate that this number is much higher. The Government of Canada fully complies with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. The Government of C ... [Read More]
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