US embassy cable - 05ASUNCION472

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASUNCION 000472 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OTRA, OVIP, PA 
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR COL. M. TIA JOHNSON 
 
REF: SECSTATE 61199 
 
1.   As requested in reftel, country clearance is granted for 
Col. Musetta Tia Johnson with Top Secret / SCI Security 
Clearance, for travel to Asuncion during the period of April 
14, 2005 to April 15, 2005 for the purpose of Legal 
Consultations. The control officer for the visit is Mark 
Stamilio, office tel.: 011-595-21-213-715, ext. 2046, Home: 
011-595-21-663-505, Cell: 011-595-971-202-448. 
 
2.  Hotel reservations have been confirmed at the Sheraton 
Hotel Asuncion, (address: Avenida Aviadores del Chaco 2066; 
telephone: 011-595-21-617-7000).  This hotel is located 
approximately 3 miles from the Embassy.  Cost of the 
single/double room is USD 110.00 per night with tax and 
breakfast included. 
 
3.  As requested in reftel, embassy personnel will meet Col. 
Johnson at the airport, provide assistance and transportation 
to hotel. 
 
4.  All U.S. citizens traveling to Paraguay are now required 
to have visas.  Airport and border visas are not available at 
this time.  Please contact the Paraguayan Embassy or closest 
Consulate for more information, especially if you require a 
multiple entry visa. 
 
5.  If travel plans involve visiting neighboring countries in 
the region, please arrive with appropriate visas and obtain 
country clearances from the appropriate U.S. Embassies. 
Brazil and Argentina requires visas for official travelers on 
diplomatic, official, and/or personal passports.  Official 
visitors contemplating travel to Iguazu Falls should advise 
the Embassy before doing so as well as Embassy Brasilia 
and/or Embassy Buenos Aires if they plan to cross into Brazil 
and Argentina.  Travelers are reminded that Iguazu Falls is 
located on the border of Brazil and Argentina, about ten 
miles east of Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, and that travelers 
from Paraguay cross into Brazil. 
 
6.  Post recommends that even though you will be only 
transiting Brazil, you also obtain a Brazilian visa.  If the 
airline cancels or delays its flight to Asuncion, then you 
may have to stay in Sao Paulo for one day while waiting for 
the next available flight to Asuncion.  Brazilian authorities 
will not permit you to leave the airport to go to a hotel 
without a valid Brazilian visa.  U.S. citizens may be 
fingerprinted and photographed upon entry into Brazil.  This 
applies to holders of diplomatic and official passports, as 
well as tourist passports. 
 
7.  Threat Assessment: 
 
A.  Political Violence-Terrorism: There are no indigenous 
terrorist organizations in Paraguay.  There are no political 
groups or parties that are currently active in this country 
that are specifically targeting U.S. interests.  However, 
given the presence of members of and support for extremist 
terrorist groups in the tri-border region (Alto Parana and 
Itapua Departments), visitors here cannot discount the 
possibility of terrorist activity, to include random acts of 
anti-American violence. 
 
B.  Crime:  Paraguay is a high-threat post for crime.  Petty 
street crime in the city of Asuncion and the immediate 
suburbs continues to be a problem for residents and visitors 
alike.  Visitors to the city of Asuncion should be aware of 
problems with pickpockets or purse snatchers on the street or 
on public transportation.  Until recently, most crime 
affecting visitors has been non-violent; aggravated 
robberies, shootings, etc., while not completely unheard of 
in Asuncion, were nonetheless uncommon.  However, incidents 
of armed robberies of businesses and residences by criminal 
groups are occurring with greater frequency, and as a result, 
it is recommended that due caution be exercised when 
traveling about the city. 
 
8.  The seasons in Paraguay are the opposite of those in the 
United States.  Asuncion,s climate is extremely hot from 
November through April and cool or mild in July and August. 
The transitional seasons, May ) June and September ) 
October are unpredictable: they can be pleasant or hot. 
Health conditions generally are good.  The water in Asuncion 
is potable, and there are few reports of intestinal or 
stomach problems.  There is no endemic hepatitis or malaria 
in Asuncion although outbreaks of dengue fever are recurrent. 
 As of April 5, 2005 the exchange rate is 6,280 guaranies to 
one US dollar. 
 
9.  Laptops/Palm Pilots, cellular telephones and other 
electronic devices:  Laptops/Palm Pilots may not be brought 
into the Embassy without the prior approval of the Regional 
Security Office.  Personally owned laptops/palm pilots may 
not/not be used in the Embassy. USG-owned laptops may only be 
used in Controlled Access Areas (CAA) if the user certifies 
that the computer has been continuously under the personal 
control of a cleared American throughout transit.  If this 
requirement is not met, the laptop can only be utilized 
outside of the CAA.  USG-owned palm pilots are under the same 
restrictions as cellular phones and other electronic devices, 
and may not be utilized within the CAA. 
 
10.  Security Clearance:  State Department policy requires 
that all official visitors verify their security clearances, 
in writing, with the RSO in order to have unescorted access 
to the Embassy.  Visitors whose clearances are not verified 
must be escorted at all times.  TDY,ers must schedule a 
security in-briefing with the security office as soon as 
possible after arriving at post. Access badges will not be 
issued until the employee has acknowledged receipt of the 
required security briefing. 
KEANE