US embassy cable - 05ASUNCION895

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASUNCION 000895 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC, KSEO, ACOA, PA, KSEC, RIMC 
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR GEORGE GILMER 
 
REF: SECSTATE 129006 
 
1. Per reftel, country clearance is granted for George 
Gilmer, Passport No. 801624622, Clearance: Secret, for travel 
to Asuncion during the period of 17 July 2005 to 20 July 
2005, for the purpose of install equipment, train badge 
station operators and produce badges for users of the DOS 
OpenNetPlus system. The contact officer for the visit is Ted 
Carpenter, office tel.: 011-595-21-213-715, ext. 2026. Home: 
011-595-21-611-439. Cell: 011-595-971-302-407. 
 
2. Hotel reservations have been confirmed at the Sheraton 
Hotel Asuncion, (address: Avenida Aviadores del Chaco 2066; 
telephone: 011-595-21-617-7150).  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. Due to budget constraints, post will only provide airport 
expediter for initial arrival and final departure of 
employees assigned to post, as well as for senior officials. 
Other travelers requiring special assistance should request 
an expediter in advance and provide fiscal data.  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 July 12, 2005 the exchange rate is 6030 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.  Becase of 
restrictions with the embassy bank, ABN-AMRO, traveler's 
checks may only be cashed with one of the local exchange 
houses. 
 
10. Laptops, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) may not be 
brought into the Embassy without the prior approval of the 
Regional Security Office.  Personally owned laptops, PDAs 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 PDAs 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