PARAGUAY: PARAGUAY COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR TRAINING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASUNCION 001258

SIPDIS

DEPT OF JUSTICE FOR FAYE EHRENSTAMN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR/OPDAT,
AMY YOUNG DOJ/OPDAT

STATE FOR WHA/BSC, S/CT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KJUS KCRM ABUD AFIN PA POL
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY: PARAGUAY COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR TRAINING
CONFERENCE FOR DEPARTMENT OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
ASUNCION PARAGUAY, OCTOBER 10-12, 2005.

REF: STATE 182650



1. Per reftel, country clearance is granted for

-ELIZABETH D'AURIA
-AMY YOUNG
during the period of OCT/6/05 to OCT/13/05

for:
-MARK ALMON
-THOMAS MILLER
-MARK MALDONADO
during the period of OCT/8/05 to OCT/13/05

for:
-DEBORAH A. MCCARTHY
-CAROLINE CROFT
-NICHOLAS NOYES
-CELINA REALUYO
-STEPHANIE PELL
-JENNIFER SHOWELL
-CHARLES ALLEN
-DAVID KANE
-CYNTHIA CARR

during the period of OCT/9/05 to OCT/13/05

For the purpose of PARTICIPATING IN A REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON
FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNITS AND THEIR ROLE AGAINST THE
TRANSPORTATION OF CURRENCY AND THE ILLICIT USE OF CHARITIES
IN ASUNCION PARAGUAY, TO BE HELD FROM OCTOBER 10-12/2005.
The contact officer for the visit is SCOTT THORLEY RLA.,
office tel.:595-21-213-715, ext.2039. Home tel.: 595-21-664-

567.


2. Hotel reservations have been confirmed at the
EXCELSIOR HOTEL, (address: CHILE 980;
telephone: 595-21-495-632). This hotel is located
approximately 3 miles from the Embassy. Cost
of the single/double room is USD 90 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 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. 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 May/25/05 the exchange rate is
6,090 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,
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."