US embassy cable - 05ASUNCION916

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASUNCION 000916 
 
SIPDIS 
 
MONTEVIDEO FOR APHIS RICARDO ROMERO 
AMEMBASSY BUENOS PLS PASS APHIS JORGE FISCHER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR, PA 
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR APHIS LOCAL EMPLOYEE STAFF 
(LES) OFFICERS RICARDO ROMERO AND JORGE FISCHER 
 
REF: MONTEVIDEO 000790 
 
1. Per reftel, country clearance is granted for APHIS/LES 
Jorge Fischer, Agricultural Inspector, Buenos Aires, and 
Ricardo Romero Agricultural Scientist, Embassy 
Montevideo, for travel to Asuncion during the period of 
July 15-19, 2005 for the purpose of participating in 
bilateral meetings with Ministry of Agriculture and 
Livestock of Paraguay, and to attend the inauguration of 
the Agricultural Expo on July 16, 2005.  The contact 
officer for the visit is Economic and Commercial Attache 
R. Bryan Marcus, office tel.: (595/21) 213-715, Ext. 
2129.  Home tel.: (595/21) 615-181. 
 
2. Per paragraph 4 of reftel, no Embassy assistance is 
required. 
 
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. Asuncions 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 07/14/2005 the exchange rate is 6,040 guaranies 
to one US dollar.  Personal Finances: Official travelers 
may cash personal checks at the Embassy for amounts up to 
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, 
travelers checks may only be cashed with one of the 
local exchange houses. 
10. Laptops, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA)Pilots, 
cellular telephones and other electronic devices: Laptops 
and PDAs 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. TDYers 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