From: "U.S. Dept of State Listserver" Subject: DOSTRAVEL Moldova Public Announcement 05/12/99 Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Fri, 11 Jun 1999 20:28:39 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Reply-To: "U.S. Dept of State Listserver" Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:2250 Path: world!bzs Sender: US Dept of State Travel Warnings Message-ID: <199906112029.PAA46470@piglet.cc.uic.edu> Approved: usenet@world.std.com Distribution: wstd Comments: To: dostravel@uic.edu Lines: 193 Moldova - Public Announcement May 12, 1999 Following the commencement of NATO operations on March 24 against security forces in Serbia-Montenegro, there is the possibility for acts of retaliation against U.S. citizens and U.S. interests worldwide. Demonstrations against these operations have taken place and are continuing at a number of U.S. embassies and institutions worldwide. The U.S. Embassy in Chisinau has received information that groups in the Trans-Dniester region of eastern Moldova may be planning acts of retaliation against nationals of NATO countries. Therefore, the Department of State urges U.S. citizens to defer travel to this region of Eastern Moldova, and recommends that U.S. citizens in Trans-Dniester consider departing the area. U.S. citizens throughout Moldova should exercise caution. American citizens traveling or residing in Moldova should contact the U.S. Embassy for up-to-date information on local security conditions at tel: (373-2) 233-772. For further information on Moldova consult the latest Consular Information Sheet. This Public Announcement repeats the Public Announcement for Moldova issued on April 9, 1999, without change, and expires on July 30, 1999. Moldova - Consular Information Sheet June 10, 1999 COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: Moldova has been an independent nation since 1991. Chisinau, the capital, offers adequate hotels and restaurants, but tourist facilities in other parts of the country are not highly developed, and many of the goods and services taken for granted in other countries are not yet available. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Visas are required of American citizens traveling to (or transiting) Moldova. All visas must be obtained in advance of arrival from a Moldovan embassy or consulate. Only those U.S. citizens who can provide evidence that they reside in a country in which Moldova has no embassy or consulate are permitted to obtain a tourist/business visa at the Chisinau airport. No invitation is necessary. Any person applying for a visa for a stay of more than three months must present a certificate showing that the individual is HIV negative. Only tests performed at designated clinics in Moldova are accepted. For more information on entry requirements, please contact the Moldovan Embassy, 2101 S Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 667-1131, fax (202) 667-1204. SAFETY/SECURITY: The U.S. Embassy in Chisinau has received information that groups in the Trans-Dniester region of eastern Moldova may be planning acts of retaliation against nationals of NATO countries. Therefore, the Department of State urges U.S. citizens to defer travel to this region of eastern Moldova, and recommends that U.S. citizens in Trans-Dniester consider departing the area. U.S. citizens should exercise caution throughout Moldova. CRIME INFORMATION: Moldova has experienced a rise in crime, due to worsening economic conditions, increasing organized criminal activity, and more frequent travel by foreigners to Moldova. The possibility of becoming a victim of violent and/or street crime is significant. Many Americans have reported theft of money and small valuables from hotel rooms and local apartments. Cases of breaking and entering into homes and offices have increased as well. It is wise for travelers to exercise the same precautions with regard to personal safety and protection of valuables in Chisinau that they would in any major U.S. city. Train and bus service are below Western standards, and an increasing number of U.S. citizens have been victims of crime, such as thefts, while traveling on international trains to and from Moldova. A car and driver may also be rented on an hourly or daily basis. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and to 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. Additional information on the region can be found in the brochure "Tips for Travelers to Russia and the New Independent States." Both publications are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 20402, via the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs. MEDICAL FACILITIES: Medical care in Moldova is limited, with severe shortages of basic medical supplies. Elderly travelers and those with existing health problems may be at risk due to inadequate medical facilities. The U.S. Embassy maintains lists of such facilities and English-speaking doctors. Rabies vaccinations may be useful because casual exposure to stray dogs is common throughout Chisinau. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the Hepatitis B series for certain travelers. MEDICAL INSURANCE: Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas may face extreme difficulties. Please check with your own insurance company to confirm whether your policy applies overseas, including provision for medical evacuation. Please ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas hospital or doctor or whether you will be reimbursed later for expenses that you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death. Useful information on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance programs, is provided in the Department of State9s Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure 3Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad,2 available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page http:travel.state.gov or autofax service at (202) 647-3000. OTHER HEALTH INFORMATION: Information on vaccinations and other health precautions may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention9s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1- 877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via their Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov. TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Moldova is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance. Safety of Public Transportation: Poor Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: Poor Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: Poor Availability of Roadside Assistance: Poor Moldova's infrastructure consists mainly of two-lane roads, unevenly maintained and unlighted. Caution should be taken to prevent collisions with agricultural vehicles, and travel before dawn and after dusk should be avoided, if possible. Drivers and pedestrians should exercise extreme caution to avoid accidents, which are commonplace. Many accidents involve drunk drivers. AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: As there is no direct commercial service by local carriers, at present between the United States and Moldova, nor economic authority to operate such service, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Moldova9s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of Moldova9s air carrier operations. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation within the U.S. at telephone 1-800-322-7873, or visit the FAA Internet website at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa.htm. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) separately assesses some foreign air carriers for suitability as official providers of air services. For information regarding the DOD policy on specific carriers, travelers may contact the Pentagon at telephone 703-697-7288. CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Moldova9s laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Moldova are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Travelers may have difficulty finding public telephones and receiving and making international and local calls. Losses have been reported from international letter and package mail, both of which are subject to a customs inspection before delivery. "Express" mailing services such as DHL and Federal Express are available in Chisinau, although prices are expensive in most cases, and shipments arrive from (or reach) the U.S. in no less than five (5) business days. Moldova is generally a cash-only economy. Traveler's checks and credit cards are accepted only at a few select locations in Chisinau. Y2K INFORMATION: U.S. citizens contemplating traveling or residing abroad in late 1999 or early 2000 should be aware of potential difficulties. They may wish to consider taking practical precautions against possible disruptions of services triggered by the Y2K computer phenomenon. Please monitor the home page of the Bureau of Consular Affairs for updates on Y2K issues. CHILDREN9S ISSUES: For information on international adoption of children, international parental child abduction, and international child support enforcement issues, please refer to our Internet site at http://travel.state.gov/children9s_issues.html or telephone (202) 736- 7000. REGISTRATION AND EMBASSY LOCATION: Americans are encouraged to register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Chisinau and obtain updated information on travel and security within Moldova. The U.S. Embassy in Chisinau, Moldova, is located at Strada Alexei Mateevici 103; telephone (373)(2) 23-37-72, after-hours telephone (373)(2) 23-73-45. * * * This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated February 27, 1997, to update paragraphs on entry requirements, road conditions, and Y2K information.