From: werner@rascal.ics.utexas.edu (Werner Uhrig)
Newsgroups: rec.travel
Subject: (WARNING) Armenia -- *NEW* TRAVEL ADVISORY
Date: 8 Apr 1992 09:11:08 -0500
Organization: CS Dept, University of Texas at Austin
Expires: +30 days
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu


STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL ADVISORY - Armenia
============================================================
ARMENIA - WARNING
 March 26, 1992

Summary:  U.S. citizens planning to visit Armenia or the other
former Soviet Republics should be aware that the region is
undergoing profound political and economic change.  Because of
continuing conflict, U.S. citizens should avoid travel to the
Armenia-Azerbaijan border area, U.S. citizens should avoid
demonstrations or other signs of political unrest, and should stay
abreast of current developments, in order to react to evolving
events.  Crimes against tourists are a growing problem and travelers
should exercise the same precautions, especially in urban areas, as
they would at home.  Tourists in frail health are strongly advised
not to visit the region because of severe shortages of basic medical
supplies.  Internal travel, especially by air, may be disrupted by
fuel shortages and other economic difficulties.  End Summary

Ethnic and Political Unrest:  U.S. citizens should defer all travel
to the border area between Armenia and Azerbaijan due to ongoing
violence in the Nagorno-Karabakh province of Azerbaijan.  Armenia is
presently undergoing a natural gas and transportation blockade which
is causing severe food and medical shortages, frequent interruptions
in electrical power, and shortages of transportation fuels.  As a
result, disruptions of scheduled flights to and from the capital,
Yerevan, are frequent.

Internal Travel Disruptions:  In addition to disruptions caused by
the blockade, beginning in late 1991, many flights between the
former Soviet Republics were delayed and in some cases canceled
because of shortages of jet fuel.  Travelers should be prepared for
long waits or for the possibility that their itineraries will have
to be changed with little or no advance notice.

Visas:  At this time, all travelers to the former Soviet Union,
including Armenia, must have a visa issued by a Russian embassy or
consulate.  Travelers who do not have a visa cannot register at any
hotel and will be required to leave the country immediately, via the
route by which they entered the country.  U.S. citizens should
contact the Russian Embassy in Washington (202/939-8916) or the
Russian Consulate in San Francisco (415/922-6642) for current
information on visa requirements.  U.S. citizens should obtain their
visas in the U.S.; it can be difficult and time consuming to obtain
a visa in a third country.

"Tips for Travelers to the U.S.S.R.":  U.S. citizens planning a
trip to Armenia may wish to obtain a copy of the State Department's
"Tips for Travelers to the U.S.S.R.," which is currently being
revised.  Much of the information, however is still valid for the
newly Independent States.  This pamphlet provides information about
passport and visa requirements, recommended innoculations and
vaccinations, health precautions, customs and currency regulations,
crime and personal security and other matters of general interest.
The pamphlet also contains specific information for dual nationals
of the U.S. and the former U.S.S.R.  "Tips for Travelers to the
U.S.S.R." can be ordered for $1.00 each from the Superintendent of
Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.
Travelers should also check with Intourist (212/757-3884) or the
State Department's Office of Overseas Citizen Services
(202/647-5225) for current information before traveling.

Crime and Personal Security  Although officials in Armenia have
expressed their readiness to cooperate with U.S. officials in the
event of an emergency involving a U.S. citizen, communications and
transportation can be slow and difficult.  Crimes against tourists
(robberies, muggings and pick-pocketings) are a growing problem in
the region.  Travelers should exercise the same caution -- even in
social encounters -- that they would in the United States.

Medical care in the region does not meet Western standards.  There
is a severe shortage of basic medical supplies including disposable
needles, anesthetics and antibiotics.  Tourists in frail health are
strongly advised not to visit.  The "Tips for Travelers to the
U.S.S.R." contains additional information on health care in the
region.

The U.S. has recently opened an Embassy in Yerevan, the capital of
Armenia.  The Embassy is located in the Hotel Hrazdan, and is
currently providing limited consular services to U.S. citizens in
Armenia.  U.S. citizens in need of emergency services may contact
the Embassy at 8852-215-1122.  All U.S. citizens visiting Armenia
should register with the Embassy.

No. 92-68

This advisory replaces the travel advisory dated December 24, 1991,
for the U.S.S.R., to warn U.S. citizens of concerns specific to
travel in Armenia.


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