From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Syria Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 17:38:52 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:2060 Path: world!bzs Message-ID: <199901201242_MC2-6752-7AE3@compuserve.com> Sender: "U.S. Department of State" <76702.1202@compuserve.com> Approved: usenet@world.std.com Distribution: wstd Precedence: bulk Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-List-Info: LN=travel-advisories WHOM=76702.1202@compuserve.com Content-Disposition: inline Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Mime-Version: 1.0 Lines: 177 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Syria ============================================================ Syria - Travel Warning December 19, 1998 The Department of State warns United States citizens to defer nonessential travel to Syria in light of U.S. military action undertaken against Iraq and the potential for retaliatory action. On December 19, a large demonstration was held at the U.S. Embassy in Damascus. Demonstrators also protested at the U.S. Ambassador's residence, USIS and the Damascus Community School. All of these facilities sustained some damage. The U.S. Embassy in Damascus will be closed Sunday, December 20, 1998. In the event of an American citizen requiring emergency assistance, please call the American Embassy on (963) (11) 333-1342 or call (963) (11) 333-3232. American citizens in Syria are advised to limit their movement to the maximum extents possible. The U.S. Embassy also urges that they maintain a low profile and be especially aware of their security posture until the conflict with Iraq is resolved. The U.S. Embassy in Damascus further urges that American citizens resident in Syria maintain contact with wardens while the Embassy is closed. For further information on travel to Syria, please consult the Department of State's latest Consular Information Sheet for Syria. Syria - Consular Information Sheet July 27, 1998 Country Description: The Syrian Arab Rrepublic has a developing, mixed-sector economy. The ruling Ba'th Party espouses a largely secular ideology, but Islamic traditions and beliefs provide a conservative foundation for the country's customs and practices. The constitution refers to Islamic jurisprudence as a principal source of legislation, but the legal system remains influenced by French practice. Tourist facilities are widely available, but vary in quality depending on price and location. The work week in Syria is Saturday through Thursday. The U.S. Embassy is open Sunday through Thursday. Entry Requirements: A passport and a visa are required. Visas must be obtained prior to arrival in Syria. Entry to Syria is not granted to persons with passports bearing an Israeli visa or entry/exit stamps, nor to persons born in the Gaza region or of Gazan descent. Entry into Syria via the land border with Israel is not possible. Foreigners who wish to stay 15 days or more in Syria must register with Syrian Immigration by their 15th day in Syria. Americans between the ages of 18 and 45 who are of Syrian birth or recent descent are subject to the Syrian compulsory military service requirement, unless they receive an exemption from the Syrian Embassy in the United States prior to their entry into Syria. An AIDS test is not required for foreigners prior to arrival in Syria. Tests are mandatory, however, for foreigners (ages 15 to 60) wishing to reside in Syria. The AIDS test must be conducted in Syria at a facility approved by the Syrian Ministry of Health. A residence permit will not be issued until the absence of the HIV virus has been determined. Foreigners wishing to marry Syrian nationals must also be tested for HIV. For further entry information, travelers may contact the Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic, 2215 Wyoming Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, tel. [202] 232-6313. American citizens are cautioned that the Syrian government rigidly enforces restrictions on prior travel to Israel. Travelers with Israeli stamps in their passports, Jordanian entry cachets or cachets from other countries which suggest prior travel to Israel, or the absence of any entry stamps from a country adjacent to Israel which the traveler has just visited, will cause Syrian immigration authorities to refuse the traveler admission to Syria. In one case in 1998, a group of American citizen travelers suspected of traveling to Israel were detained overnight for questioning. Travelers to Syria are further cautioned that, although Syria is a signatory to the Vienna Convention, consular notification and access to arrested Americans is problematic. Syrian officials generally do not notify the American Embassy when American citizens are arrested. When the American Embassy learns of arrests of Americans and requests consular access, individual police officials have, on their own initiative, responded promptly and allowed consular officers to visit the prisoners. However, security officials have also in the past denied U.S. Embassy requests for consular access. Medical Facilities: Basic medical care and medicines are available in the principal cities of Syria, but not necessarily in outlying areas. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health care services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage, including a provision for emergency evacuation, has proven useful. Information on health problems can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at 1-888-232-3228, via the toll-free CDC autofax service, 888-232-3299, or on the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov. Information On Crime: Crime is generally not a serious problem for travelers in Syria. The loss or theft of a U.S. passport abroad should be reported immediately to local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Useful information on safeguarding valuables, protecting personal security, and other matters while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlets, "A Safe Trip Abroad" and "Tips for Travelers to the Middle East and North Africa." They are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Consular Access: Travelers to Syria are further cautioned that, although Syria is a signatory to the Vienna Convention, consular notification and access to arrested Americans is problematic. Syrian officials generally do not notify the American Embassy when American citizens are arrested. When the American Embassy learns of arrests of Americans and requests consular access, individual police officials have, on their own initiative, responded promptly and allowed consular officers to visit the prisoners. However, security officials have also in the past denied U.S. Embassy requests for consular access. Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws and legal practices of the country in which they travel. Penalties for possession of even small amounts of illegal drugs for personal use are severe in Syria. The penalty in Syria for growing, processing or smuggling drugs is the death penalty, which may be reduced to a minimum of 20 years imprisonment. Traffic Safety and Road Conditions: Driving in Syria requires great caution. Although drivers generally follow traffic signs and signals, they often maneuver aggressively and show little regard to vehicles traveling behind them. Lane markings are usually ignored. Unlike the U.S., vehicles within Syrian traffic circles must give way to oncoming traffic. Pedestrians must also exercise caution. Parked cars, deteriorating pavement, and guard posts present obstacles on sidewalks, often forcing pedestrians to walk in the street. Currency Regulations: Syrian currency cannot be exchanged for any other currency except at government-approved exchange centers within Syria. Travelers must declare all foreign currency when they enter Syria. Amounts in excess of $5,000 (US) [or $2,000 (US) for those holding dual Syrian-American nationality] are subject to confiscation upon leaving Syria. Aviation Safety Oversight: As there is no direct commercial air service by local carriers at present, nor economic authority to operate such service, between the U.S. and Syria, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Syria's civil aviation authority for compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of Syria's air carrier operations. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation within the U.S. at 1-800-322-7873, or visit the FAA Internet home page 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, travlers may contact the Pentagon at (703) 697-7288. Registration/U.S. Embassy Location: U.S. citizens are encouraged to register at the U.S. Embassy and obtain updated information on travel and security within Syria. The U.S. Embassy in Damascus, Syria, is located in Abu Roumaneh, Al-Mansur St. No. 2; P.O. Box 29. The telephone numbers are (963) (11) 333-2814, 332-0783, 333-0788, and 333-3232 and the fax number is (963) (11) 224-7938. No. 98-113 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet for Syria dated March 11, 1998, to include the caution regarding prior travel to Israel. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. To unsubscribe, send a message containing the word "unsubscribe" to: travel-advisories-request@stolaf.edu Archives of past "travel-advisories" postings are available at the URL: "http://www.stolaf.edu/network/travel-advisories.html" or via Gopher: gopher.stolaf.edu, Internet Resources/US-State-Department-Travel-Advisories