US embassy cable - 05ASUNCION1201

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASUNCION 001201 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR ALLAN R. GALL - ACTING INSPECTOR GENERAL 
PEACE CORPS/WASHINGTON OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC 
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR CARLOS J. TORRES - 
 
REF: SECSTATE 170104 
 
1.  Per reftel, country clearance is granted for 
Carlos J. Torres for travel to Asuncion during 
the period of October 16 to October 21, 2005 for 
the purpose of collecting data for program study 
of Peace Corps Paraguay. The contact officer for 
the visit is the James Geenen, Peace Corps 
Country Director, office phone: (595-21) 600-155, 
home phone: (595-21) 611-516.  Cellular phone: 
(595-971) 900-677. 
 
2.  Hotel reservations have been confirmed at the 
Sheraton Hotel, 2066 Aviadores del Chaco Ave. and 
Santa Teresa street.  Telephone: (595-21) 6177000. 
This hotel is located approximately one mile from 
Peace Corps Office.  Cost of the single room is USD 
110.00 per night with tax and breakfast included. 
 
3.   Peace Corps will provide airport assistance. 
 
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 closes 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 09/21/05 the exchange rate is 6,090.00 
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, Citibank, 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 
Officer.  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 clearance, 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