US embassy cable - 05SANTIAGO2271

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 002271 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AINF, PGOV, PINR, OTRA, CI 
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR HARRY PONTING AND 
ROBERT SUTTER FOR NOVEMBER 13-23, 2005 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 201628 
 
     B. SECSTATE 99654 
 
1.  Embassy Santiago welcomes and grants country clearance to 
Harry Ponting, RM/IRP, and Robert Sutter, Net-Centric 
Project, Embassy Asuncion, to travel to Chile from November 
13-23, 2005 to assist in implementing Post's Net-Centric 
Diplomacy (NCD) biographic files project.  Contact point for 
your visit or any pre-visit coordination is DCM OMS Wendy 
Taylor, e-mail:  TaylorW@state.gov, office telephone number: 
(562) 330-3337, mobile number: (562) 09-159-7424, home 
number: (562) 243-5220.  The Embassy's 24-hour number is: 
(562) 330-3700/3321. 
 
2.  Both travelers are traveling with official or diplomatic 
passports.  Mr. Ponting has obtained a diplomatic or official 
entry visa.  Employees with diplomatic or official passports 
must obtain a diplomatic or official entry visa through a 
Chilean Embassy overseas or CA/PPT/SIA in Washington. 
Travelers using tourist passports do not need visas, and may 
enter on tourist cards filled out on the airplane.  Travelers 
with tourist passports are required to pay a one-time fee of 
USD 100.00 each to enter Chile. 
 
3.  Post has arranged a private airport transport service 
through the authorized Embassy travel agent, Turavion.  The 
transfer service driver will meet each passenger at the left 
hand side (near the cafe and AFEX exchange counter) as you 
exit from the airport customs area.  The driver will be 
holding a sign with the traveler's name.  The one-way fee for 
service to the Embassy or nearby hotel is currently about 
14,000 pesos or USD 25.00 payable directly to the driver, who 
will issue a receipt to the traveler (for travel voucher). 
Please advise if your flight time changes so we may notify 
the driver. 
 
4.  Hotel reservations have been confirmed at the 
Inter-Continental Hotel, Ave. Vitacura 2885, Las Condes, 
Santiago.  Hotel telephone is (562) 394-2000 and fax is (562) 
394-2075.  The hotel is less than two blocks' distance from 
the Embassy.  The rate is USD 120 (within per diem) with 
breakfast included and 19 percent value added (IVA) tax 
exempted.  Harry Ponting's hotel confirmation number is 7773; 
Robert Sutter's confirmation number is 7772.  Travelers to 
Santiago should be aware that local hotels routinely charge 
an extra 50 to 100 percent of a room's cost for early 
check-ins (before 15:00) or late check-outs (after 12:00 
noon).  Due to scheduled flight times, this frequently 
applies to individuals traveling to/from the U.S.  Please 
notify us if you desire an early check-in or a late 
check-out, and ensure travel authorization covers the 
additional charges. 
 
5. Post notes that visitors have security clearances and will 
arrange Embassy access in advance.  Please bring State 
Identification Card/building pass to facilitate access to the 
Chancery. 
 
6. State Department TDY Visitors requiring OpenNet-Plus 
Systems access during their stay should inform the control 
officer prior to their arrival.  Visitors will be required to 
attend a Systems Security briefing and complete a Network 
Access Request Form.  Santiago's State Department Systems 
Access Request Form can be found through following Intranet 
link:  http://10.185.192.3/help/Form.html.  The completed 
form must be submitted to the State Information System Center 
(ISC) through the visitor's Control Officer.  If visitors 
wish to access email from their home State Department post, 
users must provide the ISC with the fully qualified domain 
name or the TCP/IP address of the TDYer's home e-mail server. 
 
7. Personnel who intend to bring USG portable microcomputers 
(laptops) for use in CAA or non-CAA areas must notify Post's 
ISSO and RSO in advance of travel. Personal Electronic 
Devices (PED), Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) e.g. Palm 
Pilots, MP-3 players, etc. are NOT authorized in CAA spaces 
and are not authorized connectivity within OpenNet 
unclassified or classified networks, or stand-alone 
 
SIPDIS 
classified PCs.  Please refer to 03 STATE 286036 for detailed 
guidance regarding Post's Information Systems Security 
requirements. 
 
8.  Travelers are reminded that Santiago's Public Affairs 
Section is responsible for handling all in-country press 
arrangements for both Mission personnel and official 
visitors.  Media inquiries or requests for interviews made 
directly to the visitor during the course of a visit should 
be directed to the embassy press Attache, John Vance, 
telephone: (562)-330-3350.  Where contact with the media 
would serve to promote USG interests, Public Affairs will 
work with visitors prior to their arrival to determine the 
desired level of coverage, provide up-to-date media guidance, 
and make appropriate arrangements for contact with the press. 
 On-site Public Affairs staff is also available to assist 
visitors and delegations at meetings where media coverage is 
anticipated. 
 
9.  Cash Exchange:  At the airport, Banco Edwards and AFEX 
(Exchange House) have money exchange facilities located on 
the ground floor customs area as you leave the terminal.  The 
Embassy has a 24-hour ATM machine which can access any U.S. 
account served by the local bank.  Currency received is 
Chilean pesos at the current rate of exchange.  You are urged 
to bring an ATM card to post since this is the most 
convenient and economical way to change money. 
 
10.  The Embassy has a small commissary/gift shop available 
to official visitors. 
 
11.  The climate in Chile is temperate, but milder than that 
of Washington.  The seasons in Chile are opposite those in 
the northern hemisphere.  Summer (December, January, 
February) temperatures vary between 49 degrees (morning and 
evenings) and 85 degrees during the day.  November is similar 
to June weather in Washington with evenings substantially 
cooler than the days. 
 
12.  All areas of Santiago are affected by a high index of 
pollution, although the area around the Embassy has slightly 
better air quality than the more congested areas in the city. 
 Pollution levels rise to unacceptable levels (pm-10 levels 
of 240 mcg/m3) on an average of five to six times per year. 
The major health effects include difficulties with breathing 
and aggravation of existing respiratory, cardiovascular, 
allergic and asthmatic problems.  This is particularly true 
for the elderly and children, and for those with confirmed 
asthmatic and allergic symptoms.  Contact lens wearers 
sometimes find their eyes are more easily irritated here. 
The most severe pollution occurs during the months of May to 
October. 
 
13.  The intensity of the sun is particularly pronounced in 
Santiago.  Travelers should travel with good sunglasses, hats 
and sunblock if they anticipate pending much time outdoors. 
 
14. In order to drive a vehicle in Chile, you must have an 
international driver's license.  Failure to adhere to this 
may result in arrest and confiscation of the rental vehicle. 
 
15. After the terrorist attacks of September 11th, there is a 
possibility for violent actions against United States 
citizens and interests throughout the world.  We urge all 
Embassy personnel and visitors to Chile to maintain a high 
level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to reduce 
potential vulnerability. 
 
16. The Embassy has advised in a Warden message to Americans 
in Chile that extremists in the Tri-border area (Brazil, 
Argentina and Paraguay) may have received instructions in 
mid-October 2000, to begin efforts to collect information on 
U.S. business persons and government officials in the 
southern cone of South America.  This information would be 
used to prepare contingency plans for possible kidnappings or 
attacks in the event the terrorist strike in the southern 
cone.  We take this information very seriously.  Because of 
the Embassy's special visibility, we urge all personnel to 
maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate 
steps to reduce potential vulnerability. 
 
17. Visitors should be aware of the criminal environment in 
Santiago, which is rated medium for USG employees.  Street 
crime, common to many South American cities, is a problem. 
One should be particularly alert in the business/commercial 
crowded areas.  We recommend visitors: 
--Be attentive to your surroundings--people, vehicles, 
parcels, etc. 
--Maintain a low profile particularly in busy tourist areas. 
--Vary routes and times for all required travel. 
--Treat mail or other deliveries from unfamiliar sources with 
suspicion. 
--Be circumspect about information you provide about yourself 
to strangers or in the presence of strangers. 
KELLY