From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Tajikistan Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Mon, 3 Nov 1997 18:29:22 GMT Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1516 Path: world!eliz Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Message-ID: <199711031332_MC2-2694-B03@compuserve.com> Content-Disposition: inline Precedence: bulk Sender: Wally Doerge <76702.1202@compuserve.com> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Mime-Version: 1.0 Distribution: wstd Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 202 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Tajikistan ============================================================ Tajikistan - Travel Warning October 21, 1997 The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer travel to Tajikistan. The security situation in the capital city of Dushanbe, already dangerous, has deteriorated since early September 1997 with a series of actual and attempted bombings. In addition, armed men attacked the Presidential guard headquarters southwest of the center of Dushanbe on October 16. Any travel to the east of the city of Dushanbe remains dangerous, and travel to the west and south is also dangerous at times. The American Embassy in Dushanbe has advised American citizens in the capital to exercise extreme caution in their movements and to be particularly careful when visiting stores and kiosks. For security reasons, American Embassy personnel and the staff of many international organizations are observing a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew. A peace agreement between the government and its political opposition is in the process of being implemented. However, there are groups who wish to derail the implementation of the accord and, therefore, the situation remains volatile. For further general information on travel to Tajikistan, consult the latest Department of State Consular Information Sheet on Tajikistan. No. 97-032 Tajikistan - Consular Information Sheet October 31, 1997 Warning: The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer travel to Tajikistan. The security situation in the capital city of Dushanbe, already dangerous, has deteriorated since early September 1997 with a series of actual and attempted bombings. In addition, armed men attacked the presidential guard headquarters southwest of the center of Dushanbe on October 16. All travel to the east of the city of Dushanbe remains dangerous, and travel to the west and south is also dangerous at times. The American Embassy in Dushanbe has advised American citizens in the capital to exercise extreme caution in their movements and to be particularly careful when visiting stores and kiosks. For security reasons, American Embassy personnel and the staff of many international organizations are observing a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew. A peace agreement between the government and its political opposition is in the process of being implemented. However, there are groups who wish to derail the implementation of the accord and, therefore, the situation remains volatile. Country Description: Tajikistan, a newly independent country in central Asia, has been undergoing profound political and economic changes since the break-up of the Soviet Union. After the civil war in 1992, sporadic fighting continued, largely in remote areas. Since August 1997, there has been some fighting in Dushanbe. Tourist facilities are undeveloped and many goods and services taken for granted in other countries are unavailable. Entry Requirements: A passport and visa are required. Entry into Tajikistan at points along the Gorno-Badakhshan border requires special authorization in advance. Without a visa, travelers cannot register at hotels and may be required to leave the country immediately. In the U.S., visas for Tajikistan are issued by the Russian Embassy, Consular Division, 1825 Phelps Place N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, tel. (202) 939-8907, or the Russian consulates in New York, San Francisco or Seattle. Tajik visas granted by these offices are valid for a stay of three days in Tajikistan. Visas issued for other CIS countries (except Turkmenistan) are also valid for up to a three-day stay in Tajikistan. If travelers plan a longer stay, they may apply for a longer visa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after arriving in the country. Note: Travelers who intend to visit Tajikistan should obtain double-entry Russian visas, or apply for an additional single-entry visa in Dushanbe for the return flight through Russia. Travelers should obtain Uzbek visas, if planning to transit Uzbekistan. Internal Travel: Travel to, from, and within Tajikistan is difficult and unreliable. Flights may be cancelled or substantially delayed. Return commercial charter flights are frequently overloaded with merchandise. International train connections are dangerous because of criminals operating on board. Road Conditions and Traffic Safety: Road travel can be made difficult by checkpoints, where police or soldiers are armed and will shoot if vehicles do not stop. Some checkpoints, operated by independent armed groups which have targeted foreigners in the past, exist on the road east of Dushanbe. For this reason, the U.S. Embassy strongly recommends against road travel to the east. Vehicles with Tajik license plates have frequently been refused permission to enter Uzbekistan and vice versa, so a change of vehicles at the border may be required. The U.S. Embassy recommends that road travel be done only in daylight hours, and on routes known to the traveler or a reliable escort. Areas of Instability: Due, in part, to the actions of those oppposed to the implementation of the June 1997 Peace Accords, the situation in the capital and its environs deteriorated in August and September 1997. There were a number of explosions, some on public transport, in which some local persons were killed or injured. In August 1997, there was serious fighting between government factions within Dushanbe and to the south and west. Smaller clashes between paramilitary gangs took place in Dushanbe in September 1997, as well. In February 1997, two United Nations vehicles were hijacked in broad daylight and their occupants taken hostage by a semi-independent armed group operating to the east of Dushanbe. There has been sporadic nighttime fighting in Tursunzade and demonstrations in several cities. To date, Americans have not been targeted, but bystanders have been hurt in some of these attacks. Because of this unpredictability, U.S. travelers should avoid demonstrations, crowds, and places where military personnel congregate. The U.S. Embassy recommends Americans remain inside during hours of darkness. Security forces are visible in the capital and the southern half of the country. U.S. citizens should check with the U.S. Embassy for current information before traveling outside of Dushanbe. The situation in Leninabad Province, in the northern part of the country, has been generally quiet. Medical Facilities: The medical infrastructure of Tajikistan has deteriorated significantly. Many trained medical personnel have left the country. There is a general scarcity of medical equipment and medicines, and a potential for significant disease outbreaks due to population shifts and the breakdown in immunization activity. There have been outbreaks of typhoid in the Dushanbe area and in the south, and the risk of cholera and water-borne illnesses is high. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Travelers have found that supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage, including air evacuation, has proved useful. The government of Tajikistan has recently passed legislation requiring visitors who will remain in country for more than 90 days to present a medical certificate showing that they are AIDS-free, or to submit to an AIDS test in Tajikistan. This testing requirement has not been implemented, but could be at any time. Because of the lack of medical supplies, submitting to an AIDS test in Tajikistan could be risky. Further information on health matters can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) international travelers hotline, tel. (404) 332-4559 or via the CDC home page on the Internet: http://www.cdc.gov. Crime Information: Tajikistan is a country with a struggling economy and widespread unemployment, which have resulted in high street crime. There has been a recent surge in pickpockets, muggings, and robberies of persons perceived as having money, including foreigners. Travelers should not travel alone or on foot after dark. Seven ethnic Russians were murdered in one night in February 1997, and there have been several murders of ethnic Russians since then. 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 Newly Independent States." Both publications are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 20402. Currency Regulations: Tajikistan is a cash-only economy. International banking services are not available. Credit cards and traveler's checks are not accepted. Travel with large amounts of cash can be dangerous. Although some private shops continue to accept Russian rubles, Tajikistan has introduced its own currency, the Tajik ruble. 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/Embassy Location: U.S. citizens are urged to register with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy and obtain updated information on travel and security within Tajikistan. The U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe is temporarily located at the Hotel October, 105A Prospekt Rudaki; tel. (7) (3772) 21-03-56. No. 97-152 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet for Tajikistan dated April 18, 1997 to include the Travel Warning issued October 21, 1997, and to update changes in country description, internal travel, areas of instability, crime information, and currency regulations. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- 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