US embassy cable - 05SANTIAGO2355

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 002355 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT PASS TO TREASURY/IET/MANDERSON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMGT, APER, EFIN, OTRA, CI 
SUBJECT:  Santiago Grants Country Clearance to Graciano 
Velez, Dept of Treasury 
 
REF: DEPT TREASURY 151438Z NOV 05 
 
1.  Embassy Santiago welcomes and grants country 
clearance for Department of Treasury Financial 
Enforcement Intermittent Advisor, Graciano Velez, from 
11/27/2005 through 12/02/2005 as requested in reftel. 
The visit's purpose is to update the 2003 assessment 
report and work plan and to discuss its implementation. 
 
2.  Control officer for your visit is STEPHANIE ACOSTA- 
MIKULASEK, EPOL Officer, telephone numbers; office 56- 
2)330-3335, cell (56-2)330-09-139-9087, home (56-2)955- 
0977 and fax (56-2)330-3118.  Control Officer can be 
reached 24 hours a day via Post 1, telephone (56-2)330- 
3321/3700.  During business hours it is best to reach the 
control officer via the Embassy switchboard (56-2)262- 
2600. 
 
3.  Employees with diplomatic or official passports must 
obtain diplomatic or official entry visas through a 
Chilean embassy overseas or CA/PPT/SIA in Washington. 
Those with 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 U.S. dollars 100.00 each to enter the 
country. 
 
4.  Post recommends the use of a private airport 
transport service arranged by the authorized Embassy 
travel agent, although taxis are available, reliable and 
about the same price.  The one-way fee for either service 
to the Embassy or nearby hotel is currently about 14,000 
pesos or U.S. 25 dollars payable directly to the driver, 
who will issue a receipt to the traveler (for travel 
voucher).  A van that can comfortably accommodate more 
than two visitors will cost slightly more.  Please notify 
Santiago control officer as soon as possible for the 
Embassy to have the transfer service pick the passenger 
up at the airport, if desired.  The transfer service 
driver will meet the passenger(s) at the left hand side 
(near the cafe and AFEX exchange counter) as you exit the 
airport customs area.  The driver will be holding a sign 
with the traveler's name. 
 
5.  Visitor will be staying at the Intercontinental 
Hotel, 2885 Vitacura, Santiago, Chile, (56-2)394-2000. 
Most hotels will bill without 19 percent value-added tax 
if arrangements are made at the time of check-in.  You 
will need to show your U.S. passport, provide an address 
outside Chile and arrange for lodging payment at 
departure to be in dollars (via credit card, traveler's 
checks or cash). 
 
6.  State Department regulations require that all 
official visitors verify their security clearances either 
via cable or by bringing a letter signed by an 
appropriate authority.  Visitors whose security clearance 
has not been verified need to be escorted at all times 
while in the Embassy.  State Department employees should 
bring their State Identification Card/building pass to 
facilitate access to the chancery. 
 
7.  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.  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. 
 
8.  Personnel who intend to bring U.S. Government 
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 Assistant's (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 classified PC's. 
 
9.  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 Attach, JOHN 
VANCE,  TEL  (56-2) 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. 
 
10.  Cash Exchanges: 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 will be Chilean pesos at the current 
rate of exchange.  ATMs are located conveniently around 
Santiago and in other metropolitan areas in Chile.  You 
are urged to bring an ATM card to Post since this is the 
most convenient (and many times economical) way to change 
money. 
 
11.  The Embassy community has a small commissary/gift 
shop, which is available to official visitors. 
 
12.  The climate in Chile is temperate, but milder than 
that of Washington.  The seasons in Chile are reversed: 
Summer (December, January, February) temperatures usually 
vary between 49 degrees (mornings and evenings) and 85 
degrees during the day; Winter (June, July, August) 
temperatures range between a minimum of 38 and maximum of 
64.  Most precipitation occurs during the winter months. 
Except for the hottest summer nights, evenings tend to be 
substantially cooler than the days. 
 
13.  All areas of Santiago are affected by high 
pollution, although the area around the Embassy has 
slightly better air quality than the more congested areas 
in the city.  The pollution appears as heavy smog in the 
winter and dust in the summer.  Pollution levels rise to 
unacceptable levels 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. 
 
14.  The intensity of the sun is particularly pronounced 
in Santiago.  Travelers should travel with good 
sunglasses, hats and sunblock if they anticipate spending 
much time outdoors. 
 
15.  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. 
 
16.  After the terrorist attacks of September 11th, there 
is currently a very real 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. 
 
17.  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' people 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. 
 
18.  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, 
packages, etc. 
-- Maintain a low profile, particularly in busy tourist 
areas. 
-- Vary your 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