US embassy cable - 05ASUNCION954

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASUNCION 000954 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ABLD, ACOA, AMGT, ASEC, KLBO, KRIM 
SUBJECT: ASUNCION - COUNTRY CLEARANCE REQUEST FOR IMAP 
PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE VISIT 
 
REF: STATE 137111 
 
1. Per reftel, country clearance is granted for ROLAND C. 
JENKINS (GSAI), WALTER L. WHITEHURST (GSAI), PATRICK 
PLUNKETT (GSAI), HOWARD M. JEFFRIES (GSAI) for travel to 
Asuncion during the period of 8 AUGUST to 20 AUGUST for 
the purpose of IMAP PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE VISIT. The 
contact officer for the visit is MR. LAWRENCE LEMICK 
(A/GSO), office tel.: 595-21-213-715, ext. 2077. Home 
tel.: 595-21-524-270. Cel. phone# 595-971-176-648 
 
2. Hotel reservations have been confirmed at the SHERATON 
hotel, telephone: 617-7000. This hotel is located at 2066 
Aviadores del Chaco Avenue n/ Santa Teresa Avet., 
approximately 11 (eleven) miles from the Embassy. Cost of 
the single/double room is USD 110 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 Guaranes, 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 28, 2005 the exchange rate is 5950 
Guaranes 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, 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. 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