Cyprus Apartment

This incident was at a, as I said, in a residential area of Damascus, specifically at a small apartment building, which -- a former resident of which was a UN agency, but the UN had not been resident there for some time. ... [Read More]

Europe and Central Asia

Corruption. Corruption has been the most significant problem within Georgia's law enforcement agencies. Georgia's anti- corruption efforts continue to be hampered by the widespread tolerance of corruption within Georgian society. During 2001 the Government of Georgia formed a commission to reform the law enforcement agencies (so-called "power ministries"). The commission developed a strategy for reorganization that was forwarded to the Georgian National Security Council; however, no significant changes were made. In any case, none of these proposed measures can truly ameliorate the situation given the low wages of officials and poor standard of behavior from those in charge that nourish wide-scale, low level corruption. The new hope of eradicating corruption within the system emerged with the appointment of a new Minister of Internal Affairs, who has publicly and repeatedly announced his commitment to combating corruption and the trafficking ... [Read More]

US Department Of State Post Report

Most apartments are quite comfortable. Floor plans may differ from those of typical American apartments. Nearly every apartment has one or more small balconies opening from living or dining areas or bedrooms. Most apartments have combined living and dining rooms. Some have fireplaces. Typically floors are marble or concrete covered with linoleum, tile, or parquet flooring. The Embassy provides employees with wall-to-wall carpeting for the bedrooms. Since many apartments have small rooms and limited closet and storage space, it is wise to leave in storage items you think you will not need at post. ... [Read More]

USIS Washington File: TRANSCRIPT: PENTAGON SPOKESMAN'S REGULAR BRIEFING MARCH 24, 1998

A: First of all, I'm not an expert on transporting anthrax, but I've been told that it would be extremely dangerous and somewhat difficult to load anthrax into a bunch of small perfume bottles. It would have to be done in a very sterile, secure and stable environment. The bottles would have to be well washed to make sure that no deadly material got on the outside. Obviously, it could be done, but it would not be easy to do, and it's not the type of thing that somebody could easily do in his apartment. ... [Read More]

M) Money Laundering and Financial Crimes

Turkey. Turkey is an important regional financial center for Central Asia and the Middle East and continues to be a major transit route for Southwest Asian opiates moving to Europe. Most money laundering that takes place appears to involve tax evasion rather than narcotics transactions, according to U.S. law enforcement sources, and local narcotics-trafficking organizations are responsible for only a small portion of the total of funds laundered in Turkey. Terrorist financing is also an issue, although Turkey has traditionally taken a strong stance against terrorism. Money laundering takes place in both banks and non-bank financial institutions. Traditional money laundering methods in Turkey involve the cross-border smuggling of currency, bank transfers into and out of the country, and the purchase of high-ticket items such as real estate, gold and luxury automobiles. Illicit funds are also integrated into the economy through the financing of the construction of large apartment com ... [Read More]

US Department Of State Post Report

Blender Housing Permanent HousingLast Updated:  9/29/2003 9:56 AM Beirut has leased, government-furnished apartments all located on compound.  The Ambassador occupies a private villa, also located on the Embassy grounds. FurnishingsLast Updated:  9/29/2003 9:57 AM The post provides fully furnished quarters including living room, dining room, and bedroom furniture, lamps, drapes, rugs, and major appliances, including a bottled-gas stove, refrigerator, a ... [Read More]

USIS Washington File: TRANSCRIPT: STATE DEPARTMENT NOON BRIEFING, JUNE 22 -- CORRECTED

Now, in this case of the embassy residence here, it's an apartment; so it's a slightly different case. But we believe that in light of a violation of international law this flagrant and this unprecedented, the responses we're considering would be, pursuant to international customary law, direct and proportionate responses. What those will precisely be in addition to this, we're considering. But clearly, Belarus is a country we have unfortunately had significant concerns about much of their behavior in many areas. We have expressed those concerns in the past, and all that's happened now with this unprecedented - and frankly, when Ambassador Sestanovich asked his staff, what is the normal response to something like this, they couldn't find an example from which to give the answer of what is a normal precedent. This is unprecedently, uncivilized behavior for a member of the international community. ... [Read More]

U.S. Government Assistance

Three subjects from the West African nation of Benin were arrested in Chicago on September 19, 2003, for accepting a parcel containing nearly 500 grams of heroin. The parcel was shipped from Bangkok, Thailand to a business in Chicago. An employee of the business accepted the parcel and delivered it to a nearby apartment. Agents raided the apartment, arrested two individuals and seized approximately 470 grams of heroin and $8,000 in U.S. currency (USC). As the search of the apartment was being conducted, a third individual involved in this conspiracy arrived at the apartment and was arrested. ... [Read More]

Belarus

In May and June, police broke up three prayer gatherings of the unregistered Hindu religious group "Light of Kaylasa" that were taking place in private apartments. In one incident, police forced the group's members to lie on the floor as they conducted a search of the apartment, which resulted in heavy damage. ...

There were a number of acts of vandalism against religious groups during the year. In February, unknown vandals spray-painted anti-Muslim graffiti in downtown Minsk. In May and June, unknown assailants vandalized both Jewish and non-Jewish gravesites at three Gomel cemeteries. On August 25, unknown individuals broke into a private apartment and vandalized religious paraphernalia that belonged to the "Light of Kaylasa" which was using the apartment for religious services. On August 27, unknown vandals threw a Molotov cocktail on the front entrance of a Minsk synagogue. The attack resulted in minor damage to the entrance and no injuries. Throughout the year, unknown assailants also vandalized Holocaust memorials throughout the country, including the Yama Holocaust memorial in Minsk on May 26 and a new Holocaust memorial in Lida on October 13. ... [Read More]