From: 76702.1202@CompuServe.COM (Charlie Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.travel
Subject: *NEW* TRAVEL INFORMATION -- Libya
Date: 12 Jan 1993 18:56:31 -0600
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Libya
============================================================
Libya - Travel Warning
 January 8, 1993

The United States government warns all American citizens to avoid 
travel to Libya and to depart the country immediately if resident or 
visitor there.  U.S. passports are not valid for travel to, in or 
through Libya unless a special validation is obtained from the U.S. 
Department of State.  All financial and commercial transactions with 
Libya are prohibited, unless licensed by the U.S. Treasury 
Department.  There is no U.S. Embassy in Libya.  Further details can 
be obtained in the Department of State's consular information sheet 
on Libya.

 No. 93-005

This replaces the Department of State's warning travel advisory 
dated May 12, 1992.

Libya - Consular Information Sheet
 January 8, 1993

Warning:  U.S. passports are not valid for travel to, in or through 
Libya unless endorsed by the U.S. Government.  The U.S. Government 
has determined that due to Libya's long history of flouting 
international law and directing terrorist attacks against U.S. 
citizens, it is unsafe for Americans to travel there.  There are no 
diplomatic relations between the United States and Libya.  U.S. 
Government interests are represented by the Government of Belgium, 
which as a protecting power can provide only limited emergency 
services to U.S. citizens.  

Embassy Location:  The U.S. Interests Section of the Embassy of 
Belgium is located at Tower 4, That Al Imad Complex, in the capital 
city of Tripoli.  The Belgian embassy's mailing address is P.O. 
91650, Tripoli, Libya.  The telephone number is (218) (21) 33771.  

Country Description:  The Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya 
considers itself an Islamic Arab Socialist "Mass-State," (i.e., a 
state run by the masses).  Libya has a developing economy.  Islamic 
ideals and beliefs provide the conservative foundation of the 
country's customs, laws and practices.  Tourist facilities are not 
widely available.

Entry Requirements:  Passports and visas are required.  On December 
11, 1981, U.S. passports ceased to be valid for travel to, in or 
through Libya and may not be used for that purpose without a special 
validation.  Without this requisite validation, use of a U.S. 
passport for travel to, in or through Libya may constitute a 
violation of 18 U.S.C. 1544, and may be punishable by a fine and/or 
imprisonment.

In addition, the Department of the Treasury prohibits all 
travel-related transactions by U.S. persons intending to visit 
Libya, unless specifically licensed by the Office of Foreign Assets 
Control.  There are limited exceptions to this licensing requirement 
for Libyan nationals' family members, and for journalists.

The categories of individuals eligible for consideration for a 
special passport validation are set forth in 22 C.F.R. 51.74.  
Passport validation requests for Libya can be forwarded in writing 
to the following address:

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Passport Services
U.S. Department of State
1425 K Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20522-1705
Attn:  Office of Citizenship Appeals and Legal Assistance (Room 
300). 

The request must be accompanied by supporting documentation 
according to the category under which validation is sought.  
Currently, the four categories of persons specified in 22 C.F.R. 
51.74 as being eligible for consideration for passport validation 
are as follows:

(a)  Professional reporters:  includes full-time members of the 
reporting or writing staff of a newspaper, magazine or broadcasting 
network whose purpose for travel is to gather information about 
Libya for dissemination to the general public.

(b)  American Red Cross:  Applicant establishes that he or she is a 
representative of the American Red Cross or International Red Cross 
traveling pursuant to an officially sponsored Red Cross mission.

(c)  Humanitarian Considerations:  Applicant must establish that 
his or her trip is justified by compelling humanitarian 
considerations or for family unification.  At this time, "compelling 
humanitarian considerations" include situations where the applicant 
can document that an immediate family member is critically ill in 
Libya.   Documentation concerning family illness must include the 
name and address of the relative, and be from that relative's 
physician attesting to the nature and gravity of the illness.  
"Family unification" situations may include cases in which spouses 
or minor children are residing in Libya, with and dependent on, a 
Libyan national spouse or parent for their support.

(d)  National Interest:  The applicant's request is otherwise found 
to be in the national interest.

In all requests for passport validation for travel to Libya, the 
name, date and place of birth for all concerned persons must be 
given, as well as the U.S. passport numbers.  Documentation as 
outlined above should accompany all requests.  Additional 
information may be obtained by writing to the above address or by 
calling the Office of Citizenship Appeals and Legal Assistance at 
(202) 326-6168 or 6178.

U.S. Treasury Restrictions:  In addition to the passport 
validation, U.S. Treasury requirements must be met.  Travelers may 
contact the Treasury Department at the following address and phone 
number:

Chief of Licensing
Office of Foreign Assets Control
U.S. Department of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20220
Telephone: (202) 535-9449.

U.S. Treasury Sanctions:  On January 7, 1986, the United States 
imposed sanctions against Libya, which are administered by the U.S. 
Treasury Department, prohibiting all travel-related transactions 
with respect to Libya for U.S. citizens and permanent resident 
aliens.  There are limited exceptions for Libyan nationals' family 
members who register with the Treasury Department's Office of 
Foreign Assets Control or with the Embassy of Belgium in Tripoli, 
and for full-time journalists.  As of February 1, 1986, the 
President further prohibited transactions by U.S. persons relating 
to transportation to or from Libya.  The sale in the United States 
of air transportation including any stop in Libya became illegal 
under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 
1701.  Additionally, all financial and commercial transactions by 
U.S. persons anywhere in the world with Libya are prohibited.  This 
includes working in Libya, providing a service of any nature to 
Libya, or participating in an unauthorized transaction of any kind 
involving property in which Libya has an interest.  Violations of 
the Libyan sanctions may result in penalties, fines and/or 
imprisonment.

Under the Libyan Sanctions Regulations and in addition to any 
passport validation issued by the Department of State, the U.S. 
Treasury Department requires that U.S. citizens and legal permanent 
residents, who are immediate family members of Libyan nationals and 
who wish to travel to Libya, must file a registration letter prior 
to their trip with the Office of Foreign Assets Control or with the 
Embassy of Belgium in Tripoli.  The registration must contain the 
following information:  

(1)  Name, date and place of birth of the person registering 
(including the name under which a registrant's most recent U.S. 
passport was issued, if that is different); 

(2)  If applicable, place and date of the registrant's 
naturalization as a U.S. citizen, and the number of the registrant's 
naturalization certificate, or, for permanent resident aliens, the 
Alien Registration Number of the registrant's Alien Registration 
Receipt Card; 

(3)  The name, relationship, and address of the immediate family 
member in Libya whose relationship forms the basis for the 
registrant's eligibility; and 

(4)  The number and issue date of the registrant's current U.S. 
passport, and the most recent date on which the passport was 
validated by the U.S. Department of State for travel to Libya.

U.N. Sanctions:  U.N. Security Council sanctions against Libya, 
including an air embargo, took effect on April 15, 1992.  U.N. 
Security Council Resolution 748, passed on March 31, 1992, imposed 
sanctions on Libya until Libya fully complies with the provisions of 
U.N. Resolution 731 and 748, adopted on January 21, 1992.  U.N. 
Security Council Resolutions 731 and 748 were adopted in response to 
Libya's responsibility for the bombings of Pan Am flight 103 and UTA 
flight 772.  The U.S. cannot predict if or when Libya will comply 
with the U.N. demands.  Since April 15 1992, when air links were 
discontinued, it has become difficult to leave Libya.

Medical Facilities:  Basic modern medical care and medicines may 
not be available in Libya.

Information on Crime:  Crime is generally not a serious problem for 
travelers in Libya.  Useful information on safeguarding valuables 
and protecting personal security while traveling abroad is provided 
in the Department of State pamphlet, "A Safe Trip Abroad."  It is 
available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government 
Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.

Drug Penalties:  Penalties for possession, use or trafficking in 
illegal drugs are severe, and convicted offenders can expect jail 
sentences and fines.

Tips For Travelers:  The Department of State publication "Tips for 
Travelers to the Middle East and North Africa" has useful general 
information on travel in the area.  It is available from the 
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, 
Washington, D.C. 20402.

Registration:  Persons contemplating travel to Libya, despite the 
warnings, should be aware that there is no U.S. Embassy there.  The 
U.S. government is not in a position to accord normal consular 
protective services to U.S. citizens in Libya.

 No. 93-019