Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BUENOSAIRES2544
2006-11-14 20:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Buenos Aires
Cable title:  

COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR NOAA'S SMITH, CAO

Tags:  KSCA TSPA OTRA AR 
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VZCZCXYZ0016
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #2544/01 3182004
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 142004Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6461
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002544 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/BSC, OES/SAT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KSCA TSPA OTRA AR
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR NOAA'S SMITH, CAO
AND JACKSON TO TRAVEL TO ARGENTINA NOVEMBER 11-16, 2006

REF: USDOC 6204

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002544

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/BSC, OES/SAT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KSCA TSPA OTRA AR
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR NOAA'S SMITH, CAO
AND JACKSON TO TRAVEL TO ARGENTINA NOVEMBER 11-16, 2006

REF: USDOC 6204


1. Post welcomes and grants country clearance to NOAA's Chief
of International and Interagency Affairs David Brent Smith,
Research Physical Scientist Changyong Cao and Communications
Specialist Nina Jackson to travel to Argentina for the period
of November 11-16, 2006. The purpose of the visit is to
participate in meetings and committees on Earth Observation
Satellites and Integrated Global Observing Strategy.


2. Embassy point of contact will be ESTH Officer Jonathan
Bayat, who can be reached at (5411) 5777-4747. Email is
BayatJ@state.gov. Embassy address: Av. Colombia 4300,
Embassy phone 54-11-5777-4555; Embassy fax 54-11-5777-4212.
Embassy hours: 8:45 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.


3. Visas: Visitors are reminded that Argentina requires visas
in U.S. diplomatic and official passports for official
travel. Persons traveling on official business and carrying
diplomatic or official passports who arrive without a valid
visa may be denied entry and sent back to point of origin.
The Embassy is unable to secure entry of travelers who arrive
without visas.


4. Airport tax: Official visitors holding diplomatic
passports are exempt from paying the airport tax when
departing Argentina. However, holders of official or regular
passports are required to pay the airport tax. For
international flights, the tax is US$18 per passenger
(VAT-exempt) or peso equivalent, payable in cash.


5. Administrative support:

a. If administrative support services are necessary,
regardless of length of stay, then the visitor must be able
to present to the Financial Management Office their travel
authorization (or another fund cite) in order to pay for
direct costs of the visit. Each agency, organization, or
visiting delegation will be charged for the actual costs
attributed to their visit and will be advised of this action.
Direct charge costs include, but are not limited to:
American and LES staff overtime, field travel-lodging and
M&IE by Embassy employees, vehicle rentals, long distance
telephone calls, equipment rentals, office supplies and all
other costs that are directly attributable to the visit.

b. Also, for TDYers staying over thirty (30) days, there

will be a charge for ICASS support services. If your
sponsoring agency is not signed up for ICASS services at
post, please be prepared to sign an MOU for ICASS support
services upon arrival. The agency should provide post with
written communication generated by the traveler,s
headquarters that confirms the agency will pay ICASS charges
for the TDYers, provide the agency ICASS billing code the TDY
support charges should be applied to, and should authorize
the traveler to sign the ICASS invoice generated by the TDY
module. Where travel is urgent, the TDYers should bring this
documentation with them to ensure there are no interruptions
in the provision of service. Post will not provide any
service to a TDYer staying in excess of thirty days without
provision of this documentation before day 31 of the TDY.


6. Threat assessment:

a. Political violence/terrorism: Liaison with host
government police and security forces indicate there is
little threat to U.S. citizens (official visitors, business
visitors, tourists) from indigenous terrorist organizations
in Argentina. There are no violent domestic groups currently
active in this country that are specifically targeting U.S.
interests. However, given the presence of members of and
support for extremist international terrorist groups such as
Hizbollah in the tri-border region of Argentina (Misiones
Province),visitors here cannot discount the possibility of
terrorist activity, to include random acts of anti-American
violence.

b. Crime: Petty street crime in the city of Buenos Aires and
the immediate suburbs continues to be a problem for residents
and visitors alike. Burglaries in the more fashionable
suburbs have been a particular problem. Visitors to the city
of Buenos Aires should be aware of problems with hotel
security (i.e. thefts from room) and pickpockets or purse
snatching on the streets and public transportation (buses and
trains). Pickpockets often work in pairs and employ a
variety of ruses to victimize the unsuspecting visitor. In
recent years, most crime affecting visitors has been
non-violent; aggravated robberies, shootings, etc., while not
completely unheard of in the city of Buenos Aires were,
nonetheless, uncommon. Recently, however, incidents of armed


invasions of restaurants, shops and residences by criminal
groups are being observed with greater frequency, and as a
result, it is recommended that due caution be exercised when
traveling about the city. However, in general, the crime
level in Buenos Aires is less severe than in large U.S.
cities.


7. Exchange facilities: The Argentine peso, which is
currently exchanged at a floating rate, is the official
currency. Traveler's checks may be accepted by hotels but
are not widely accepted by other businesses or
establishments. There is a wide network of ATMs that honors
U.S. issued ATM/debit/credit cards issuing funds in pesos.
Travelers are reminded to exercise the same caution when
using an ATM as one would in the United States.


8. Embassy access: State Department employees should bring
their State ID cards/building passes to Buenos Aires to
facilitate access to the Embassy. If other visitors need
unescorted access to the Embassy, please provide security
clearance information in writing via cable or by bringing a
letter signed by the appropriate authority. Visitors whose
clearances have not been verified must be escorted at all
times in the Embassy.


9. Telephone calls: Visitors should bring a fund cite or
credit card to cover the cost of official international and
in-country long distance telephone calls. International
calling cards are recommended.


10. Laptop computers/digital cameras: Laptops/palm pilots,
cellular phones and other electronic devices may not be
brought into the Embassy without the prior approval of the
Regional Security Office. Personally-owned laptops/palm
pilots 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 used
outside the CAA. USG-owned palm pilots are under the same
restrictions as cellular phones and other electronic devices,
and may not be utilized within the CAA. At the Embassy, all
USG-issued or personal cellular phones must be left outside
the CAA. Use of cellular phones outside the CAA is not
restricted. It should be noted that if a traveler is
bringing a cellular phone into the country, Argentine law
requires the traveler to declare the phone, including its
value, when filling out the customs and immigration
declaration form.


11. Mandatory personal security training: All personnel
requesting country clearance to perform duty for 30 days or
more at an overseas location must have completed the
mandatory personal security training ("Serving Abroad for
Families and Employees" (S.A.F.E.) course) conducted at the
FSI, prior to their travel.


12. For further general information regarding travel to
Argentina, travelers should consult the Department of State
internet site at http://travel.state.gov/ which includes the
latest consular information sheet for Argentina.


13. This telegram has been cleared by the Deputy Chief of
Mission.


14. We look forward to meeting and working with you.


15. To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified
website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires.< /a>
WAYNE