-Caveat Lector- Apparently NZers are returning home like lemmings from Europe too. http://www.news.com.au/news_content/national_content/4148803.htm Embassy staff flee Y2K bug By STEPHEN BIRCH 1dec99 AUSTRALIA is pulling its consular staff out of Moscow and Warsaw over Christmas and New Year because of fears of the Y2K effect. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has authorised the departure of non-essential staff and their dependants by December 28. There are about 20 DFAT staff in Moscow and the withdrawal will see the embassy occupied by only a skeleton staff. A similar withdrawal has been authorised for the Polish capital Warsaw. The department is concerned the Y2K computer bug will cause major disruption in Russia, with banking and finance, water and sewerage, power, health, local transport and telecommunications all possibly at risk. Australians have been warned to delay non-essential travel to Russia and those wishing to leave the country advised that seats on departing aircraft may be limited. Those who do end up travelling to Russia have been advised to carry extra funds and necessary medication to "minimise the potential impact of Y2K difficulties on their arrangements". The Immigration and Visa section of the embassy in Russia will be closed from December 15 to January 18. A spokeswoman for DFAT said most of the staff leaving Moscow and Warsaw would be taking their normal holidays. "Some will most likely come back to Australia, while others will probably go to neighbouring countries," she said. No travel warning has been issued for Poland. Australia has reviewed the 80 countries in which it has a regular presence and Russia and Poland are the only ones in which it deems the situation serious enough to pull out its staff. The US is taking similar measures in Russia, Belarus, Moldova and the Ukraine, with hundreds of State Department staff and their families withdrawing because of fears over the Y2K bug. In another development, Russia's Pacific Fleet, which includes atomic submarines, has taken measures to prevent the Y2K computer bug from accidentally launching its nuclear weapons. Officials have played down any worries over Russia's nuclear arsenal. back DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
