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