VZCZCXRO4895
RR RUEHAP RUEHNZ
DE RUEHAP #0050 1040337
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140337Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY APIA
TO RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0301
INFO RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND 0098
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0296
RUEHAP/AMEMBASSY APIA 0444
UNCLAS APIA 000050
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
WELLINGTON FOR JAMES P. DOHERTY AND RAYMOND MILLAR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA ASEC NZ WS
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR RSO JAMES P. DOHERTY AND FSNI RAYMOND
MILLAR
REF: WELLINGTON 00300 (NOTAL)
1. Post grants country clearance for RSO James P. Doherty and
FSNI Raymond Millar April 16 -20, 2007 to visit Apia, Samoa to
meet Samoan Police regarding an ongoing investigation and
toprovide constituent post services.
2. Post understands that no assistance from the Embassy is
requested. If necessary, Embassy point of contact is Charge
d'Affaires George W. Colvin Jr. The Embassy can be contacted
during business hours at telephone number 21631 and 21436, and
at 21514 or 7771776 after duty hours. Callers from outside Samoa
should first dial country code 685.
3. Embassy Apia is unable to provide "meet and greet" service at
the airport. Visitors can use local taxi service, which is
generally safe, reliable and frequent. Taxi fare from the
airport to downtown Apia hotels costs about WST 50.00 (roughly
US $20.00). All forms of public transportation are generally
safe at all times of the day; however, at night visitors should
use common sense precautions to prevent becoming a target of
crime.
4. American citizens visiting Samoa for 60 days or less (for
either official or private travel) may enter the country without
a visa. Immigration officials grant entry permits upon arrival.
SamoaN authorities require visitors to pay $40.00 Tala
(approximately $15.50) tax in Samoan currency at the airport
upon departure from Samoa.
5. Please note that Embassy Apia does not have the ability to
cash personal checks. Samoan Tala can be obtained at
conveniently located ATMs, including at the airport. Travelers
can also exchange currency at the airport upon arrival; both
Westpac and ANZ have branches at the airport and elsewhere in
Samoa.
6. Samoa is considered a low-threat environment. Theft and petty
crimes sometimes occur, but are usually non-confrontational in
nature. There are no terrorist groups or support groups believed
to be operating in Samoa at this time. Visitors should remain
vigilant with regard to their personal security and exercise
caution during their stay. They should also be aware of the
State Department's Consular Information sheet for Samoa and the
most recent worldwide caution public announcements, which are
available via the internet at htt://travel.state.gov.
COLVIN