State Department to let Lebanon travel ban expire, with warning
July 30, 1997Web posted at: 5:22 p.m. EDT (2122 GMT) (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has indicated she will let the U.S. government's 10-year ban on travel to Lebanon expire Thursday when it comes up for its bi-annual review. But, she said, the United States would continue to warn its citizens to avoid traveling to the Middle Eastern country because of threat of terrorist attack. Following is the text of the latest U.S. State Department warning: Lebanon - Travel Warning July 30, 1997 The United States Department of State warns all U.S. citizens of the dangers of travel to Lebanon. Therefore, the Department recommends that only those Americans with compelling reasons should consider traveling to Lebanon. Americans have in the past been targets of numerous terrorist attacks in Lebanon. The perpetrators of these attacks are still present in Lebanon, and retain the ability to act. Due to limited staff and the local security environment inhibiting movement of U.S. officials in much of the country, the U.S. Embassy in Beirut cannot perform routine consular functions and may not be able to provide timely assistance to Americans traveling in Lebanon. In addition, Americans working at the U.S. Embassy do not normally use Beirut International Airport (BIA) due to the concern about security of passengers and aircraft. The expiration of the passport restriction should not in any way be construed as a determination by the Department of State that it is safe for Americans to travel to Lebanon. U.S. citizens who travel to Lebanon despite this warning, should exercise extreme caution and avoid traveling in the southern suburbs of Beirut, the Biqa' Valley, and southern Lebanon. The Department of State will keep the situation under close review and will issue additional warnings and take any other appropriate steps that may be required. U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Lebanon are encouraged to register at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut. For security reasons, personal access to the Consular Section is not possible unless prior arrangements have been made. Therefore, contact with the U.S. Embassy on the specific requirements needed for registration should take place by phone, fax, or by mail. The U.S. Embassy is located in Antelias, P.O. Box 70-840, Beirut, Lebanon. The telephone numbers are (961-1) 417-774, 415-802, 415-803, 402-184, 402-200, 403-300, fax 407-112. Additional details can be found in the Department of State's Consular Information Sheet for Lebanon. No. 97-025 This replaces the Department of State Travel Warning for Lebanon dated July 15, 1996, to reflect the expiration of the passport restriction for travel to Lebanon and updates information concerning Beirut International Airport and the security environment in Lebanon. 
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