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From: Wally Doerge <76702.1202@compuserve.com>
Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Belarus
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Date: Wed, 29 Mar 1995 15:02:19 GMT
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STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Belarus
============================================================
Belarus - Consular Information Sheet
 March 28, 1995

Country Description:  Belarus is a nation undergoing profound 
political and economic change.  It is a newly independent nation 
still in the process of stabilizing its relations with neighboring 
countries.  Tourist facilities are not highly developed, and many of 
the goods and services taken for granted in other countries are not 
yet available.  Internal travel, especially by air, may be disrupted 
by fuel shortages and other problems.

Entry Requirements:  A passport and visa are required.  Visas are 
issued by the Belarus Embassy located at 1619 New Hampshire Ave., 
Washington, D.C. 20009, Tel. (202) 986-1606.  Travelers who do not 
have a visa cannot register at hotels and may be required to leave 
the country immediately via the route by which they entered.  As of 
April 1, 1995, visas will no longer be issued at Minsk-2 
International Airport or at the border crossings at Brest and 
Grodno.  All U.S. citizens must receive visas at Belarusian 
Embassies and consulates abroad in order to enter the country.  U.S. 
citizens residing in Belarus are required to register with the local 
office of Visas and Registration (OVIR).  Failure to do so can 
result in fines and frequent visits from local militia.  U.S. 
citizens residing in hotels are automatically registered.

Medical Facilities:  Medical care in Belarus is limited.  There is 
a severe shortage of basic medical supplies, including disposable 
needles, anesthetics, vaccines and antibiotics.  Elderly travelers 
and those with existing health problems may be at risk due to 
inadequate medical facilities.  Doctors and hospitals often expect 
immediate cash payment for health services.  U.S. medical insurance 
is not always valid outside the United States.  Travelers have found 
that in some cases, supplemental medical insurance with specific 
overseas coverage has proven to be useful.  The number of reported 
diphtheria cases in Belarus has quadrupled in the past three years.  
The Centers for Disease control recommends immunization against 
diphtheria.  Further information on health matters can be obtained 
>from the Centers for Disease Control's international travelers' 
hotline, tel: (404) 332-4559.

Crime Information:  Belarus has a medium rate of violent crime, but 
common street crime is continuing to increase, especially at night 
and in or near hotels frequented by foreigners.  Foreigners and 
particularly foreign cars tend to be targets of crime.  The loss or 
theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to 
the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.  The 
Department of State's pamphlet "A Safe Trip Abroad" provides useful 
information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security 
while traveling abroad.  This publication is available from the 
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, 
Washington, D.C. 20402.

Currency Regulations:  Traveler's checks are not accepted in 
Belarus.  Most Intourist hotels accept either American Express or 
Visa credit cards.  In addition, one hotel in Minsk, the Planeta, 
provides cash from visa credit cards, during normal business hours.

Drug Penalties:  U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the 
country in which they are traveling.  Penalties for possession, use, 
or trafficking in illegal drugs are strict and convicted offenders 
can expect jail sentences and fines.

Registration: U.S citizens who register at the Consular Section of 
the U.S. Embassy in Minsk may obtain updated information on travel 
and security within Belarus.

Embassy Location:  The U.S. Embassy in Minsk, Belarus, is located 
at 46 Starovilenskaya Ulitsa; telephone (7-0172) 31-50-00.  Fax no. 
34-78-53.

 No. 95-041

This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated August 16, 1994, 
to note new visa requirements and a change in the level of crime.


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