COUNTRY CLEARANCE REQUEST FOR ANDES REGIONAL

UNCLAS BOGOTA 008032 SIPDIS SIPDIS EMBASSY PANAMA PASS TO POLOFF C. LEE; EMBASSY QUITO PASS TO POLOFF E. MARTINI; EMBASSY CARACAS PASS COPY TO POLOFF A. CENTER; US MISSION GENEVA PASS COPY TO RMA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC OTRA PHUM PREF PREL SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE REQUEST FOR ANDES REGIONAL REFUGEE COORDINATOR TOM TARGOS TO MONITOR IOM, PADF PROGRAMS REF: STATE 143617 ¶1. This is an action message. Embassy Panama see para. 4; Embassy Quito see paras. 5 and 6. ¶2. Embassy Bogota requests country clearance for Tom Targos, Andes Regional Refugee Coordinator (RefCoord),to monitor the programs and activities of the International Organization of Migration (IOM) and Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) in Panama and Ecuador funded by Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM). Per reftel, on this trip, RefCoord Targos will accompany Washington-based PRM Program Officers Jenifer Joyce and Maura Nicholson of PRM in Panama, August 9-11. Then, RefCoord Targos and Nicholson will travel to Ecuador August 11-13. In addition to meetings with IOM-PADF and a proposed field monitoring trip in Ecuador (see para. 6),while in Ecuador and Panama, RefCoord Targos and PRM staffers also plan to meet with Embassy Officers, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and government officials to discuss the status and situation of refugees in these countries. ¶3. RefCoord Targos' proposed travel itinerary is as follows: 09 August -- Depart Bogota at 14:55 (2:55 pm) on Avianca 60 Arrive Panama City at 16:25 (4:25 pm) RefCoord Targos will arrange for ground transportation to hotel. 11 August -- Depart Panama City for Quito at 19:55 (7:55 pm) COPA 211 Arrive Quito at 21:45 (9:45 pm) RefCoord Targos and Nicholson will arrange for ground transportation to hotel. 12 August -- Depart Quito for Esmeraldas 13:30 (1:30 pm) on an field monitoring trip - all logistics to be coordinated by IOM-PADF. 13 August -- Return to Quito from Esmeraldas 16:45 (4:45 pm) 13 August -- Depart Quito at 19:05 (7:05 pm) on Avianca 78 Arrive Bogota at 20:15 (8:15 pm) ¶4. For Embassy Panama: RefCoord thanks Post for making hotel reservations, meeting arrangements for September 10 and 11 and ground transportation on September 11 for Mr. Targos as well as Ms. Joyce and Ms. Nicholson. RefCoord also thanks Post for making arrangements to meet with Embassy, IOM-PADF and UNHCR staff as well as GoP officials with responsibilities related to refugee affairs. ¶5. For Embassy Quito: RefCoord Targos thanks Post for making hotel reservations for the night of September 11 for Ms. Nicholson and himself. In addition, RefCoord Targos and Nicholson request post make arrangements for ground transportation only for the morning of September 12. On this morning, RefCoord plan to meet with Embassy officials and representatives of UNHCR Quito. ¶6. For Embassy Quito: Note that IOM-PADF in Quito will handle all logistics of RefCoord's travel starting the afternoon of September 12 and for all of September 13. IOM-PADF will pick up RefCoord Targos, Nicholson and Embassy Officer Erik Martini up at in the afternoon on September 12 and IOM will arrange to have them travel by plane to Esmeraldas. In Esmeraldas, IOM-PADF will arrange hotel accommodations for the night of September 12 as well as all logistics for a field monitoring trip in the Esmeraldas - San Lorenzo area. RefCoord has shared a copy of the proposed itinerary so that travel/security arrangements with RSO in Embassy Quito can be made. It is understood that RSO must approve the travel plan for Nicholson, Martini and RefCoord to Esmeraldas and San Lorenzo. ¶7. Targos holds diplomatic passport number 900347369, issued June 12, 2002, which expires June 11, 2007. He has a top secret security clearance. SIPDIS ¶8. RefCoord and Embassy Bogota greatly appreciates both Embassies' assistance. WOOD