US embassy cable - 05ASUNCION530

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASUNCION 000530 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON, OTRA, PA 
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR INTER-AMERICAN FOUNDATION 
(IAF) REPRESENTATIVE 
 
REF: STATE 69340 
 
1. As requested in reftel, country clearance is granted for 
IAF Representative Maria Gabriela Boyer, for travel to 
Asuncion during the period of May 5 to May 8, 2005, for the 
purpose of visiting potential IAF grantees.  The contact 
officer for the visit is Patrick R. O'Reilly, office tel.: 
(595/21) 213-715, ext. 2015.  Home tel.: (595/21) 612-758. 
 
2. Per paragraph 3 of reftel, no Embassy assistance is 
required. 
 
3. Due to the high volume of TDY personnel the Embassy 
receives, we are able to meet and assist only personnel who 
are traveling with large amounts of technical equipment. 
Taxis are available from the airport. A taxi ride from the 
airport to your hotel may cost you anywhere from 45,000 to 
60,000 guaranies, approximately 8 to 10 USD. 
 
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. 
 
9. As of April 19, 2005 the exchange rate is 6,235 guaranies 
to one US dollar.  Personal Finances: Official travelers may 
cash personal checks at the Embassy for amounts up to US$ 
750.00 per week, and use their ATM cards at one of the many 
terminals located throughout the city. Because of 
restrictions with the embassy bank, ABN-AMRO, traveler's 
checks may only be cashed with one of the local exchange 
houses. 
 
10. 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. 
11. 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