COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR HARRY PONTING AND

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