UNCLAS LIMA 001603

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

PLEASE TRANSMIT TO EPSC FOR F. CORNIELLE.

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC KSCA OTRA US CDC PE
SUBJECT: AMENDED COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR HHS/CDC CARYN BERN.
ATD #1059

REF: A. ATLANTA GA 01040


B. LIMA 1441

C. ATLANTA GA 01276


1. (U) The Embassy grants country clearance for the visit to
Peru of HHS/CDC Caryn Bern for the period of May 15, 2006
through May 28, 2006. The purpose of the visit to
collaborate with Robert Gilman, Asociacion Benefica Proyectos
en Informatica, Salud y Aglicultura on Chagas disease
research, including data analysis and development of
proposals.

Per Reftel no Embassy assistance has been requested. POC
would appreciate an email summary of visit
(Howardhh@state.gov; and USAID Susan Thollaug at
SThollaug@usaid.gov).

When departing Lima by air, the Republic of Peru imposes an
airport departure tax on any outbound passenger of 30.25 USD
for international flights and 6.05 USD for domestic flights.


2. (U) POINT OF CONTACT, TELEPHONE NUMBERS, ADDRESS AND
COMPUTER USE:

Point of contact for the visit is, Deputy Counselor for
Economic Affairs Howell Howard, office telephone number
(51)(1)618-2414, cellular telephone number (51)(1)9-628-6866,
home telephone number (51)(1)372-1889 e-mail
Howardhh@state.gov. Embassy after-hours direct line for
Marine Security Guard is (51)(1)618-2936. The Embassy
address is Av. La Encalada, Cuadra 17, in the Monterrico Sur
Section of Lima.

State Department TDY visitors requiring OpenNet-Plus Systems
access during their stay should directly contact George K.
Philpott, ISO, in advance of their arrival so a computer
account can be created if needed.

Any employee who intends 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. 12 FAH-6
h-314 prohibits the installation or use of any privately
owned computer in a government building where classified
information is processed or stored. Accordingly, post policy
prohibits Personal Electronic Devices (PED), Personal Digital
Assistants (PDA) e.g. &Palm Pilots8, MP-3 players, etc.
within the Chancery facility. Such devices are never
authorized in CAA spaces and are not authorized connectivity
within OpenNet unclassifie

d or classified networks, or
stand-alone classified PCs. Personnel who wish to bring PDAs
authorized under the Department of State,s Secure Wireless
Extended Enterprise Technology (SWEET) program into the
Chancery must notify Post,s ISSO and RSO in advance of
travel. Find information concerning the SWEET program at
http://sweet.irm.state.gov. Please refer to 03 STATE 286036
for detailed guidance regarding Post,s Information Systems
security requirements.


3. (U) PASSPORT/VISAS:

To ensure full protection for travelers, the mission requires
that all visitors eligible for official/diplomatic passports
use them with appropriate visa. Travelers should not use
tourist passports. In exceptional cases where official
travelers must use tourist passports/visas, specific
authorization must be obtained in advance. Foreign citizens
bearing tourist passports who come to Peru to work, either
officially or in technical or cultural cooperation, must
enter the country with an official work visa.

DOD personnel on personal travel must use a tourist passport.
If official visitors arrive via military ship, a passport is
not required unless the individual is required to exit Peru
via commercial or military air. If an official visitor is a
Peruvian National serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, a valid
Peruvian (maroon) passport is absolutely necessary in all
cases in order for the individual to enter or exit Peru.
Proof of residency in the U.S. (green card) is required for
return to the U.S. All visas for onward travel should be
obtained prior to arrival in Peru.


4. (SBU) SECURITY:

Post reminds all TDY personnel requesting country clearance
for temporary duty of 30 days or more of the requirement to
complete mandatory personal security training effective
January 1, 2005. Personnel requesting country clearance for
periods of 30 days or more must certify that they have or
will complete the required training prior to their travel, or
may request a waiver as per the above policy. For extended
TDY requests, individual bureaus (not the Bureau of Human
Resources) are responsible for ensuring that their staff, in
all employment categories (Civil Service, Foreign Service,
WAE, PSC, etc.), meets the training requirement. See 04
State 66580 for more information about the mandatory personal
security training requirement.

Country clearance is granted for travel to non-Embassy
restricted areas only. Visitors who plan to travel to
Embassy restricted areas must request Post approval upon
arrival. A list of these areas can be obtained from the RSO.
It is imperative that the Mission be notified immediately of
delays or changes in plans or itinerary. Personnel must not
change hotels without first notifying control officer. The
State Department has designated Peru as high threat for
indigenous terrorism, medium threat for transnational
terrorism and political violence, and critical threat for
crime. Two terrorist groups operate in Peru: Sendero
Luminoso (SL) and Movimiento Revolucionario Tupac Amaru
(MRTA). Both organizations continue to be potential threats
and have targeted U.S. facilities in the past. Due to GOP
efforts, the activities of the SL and MRTA have been greatly
reduced and are now largely confined to rural areas.
Overland travel outside of Lima and other large cities during
the hours of darkness is prohibited due to unsafe road
conditions and the threat of armed criminals. Terrorist
groups operate with relative impunity in some interior areas
and are known to target vehicular traffic. Crime is a
serious problem in metropolitan Lima and popular tourist
areas such as Arequipa, Cuzco, and Machu Picchu. Most crimes
involve petty theft, pickpocketing, bag slashing,
grab-and-run, and theft from occupied and unoccupied
vehicles. More violent crimes include armed robbery,
carjacking, and choke-and-rob. Criminals frequently react
violently when resistance is encountered. In almost all
instances it is advisable not to offer resistance. Most
areas of downtown Lima are dangerous and should be avoided
during the hours of darkness. Visitors are cautioned to
remain alert to their surroundings at all times, particularly
when in crowded areas, such as on public transportation, at
outdoor markets, and at tourist sites. Countermeasures
against crime also protect against terrorism. Special care
should be exercised at the Jorge Chavez International Airport
in Callao. Criminals frequent this area, especially at
night, and are known to target foreigners both inside and
outside the terminal.

Security briefings are mandatory for all official visitors to
Peru. Briefings are given in the RSO Conference Room at the
Embassy, on Wednesdays, promptly at 9:00 a.m.


5. (U) ICASS TDY Policy and Action Request:

Each visitor, regardless of length of stay, must
bring/forward fiscal data 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. Direct charge costs include, but are not limited to:
American and LES staff overtime (e.g., expediter,
accommodation exchange, representational event support),
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. Also, for TDYers over thirty (30)
days, there is a charge for ICASS support services. If your
sponsoring agency is not signed up for ICASS services at
post, please be prepared to sign a MOU for ICASS support
services upon arrival. The agency should provide post with a
written communication, generated by the traveler,s
headquarters that confirms the agency will pay ICASS charges
for the TDYers, provides the agency ICASS billing code the
TDY support charges should be applied to, and authorizes 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. (U) HEALTH CONCERNS:

Travelers to the jungle areas of Peru should have up-to-date
yellow fever vaccine and malaria prophylaxis for
chloroquine-resistant strains of malaria. Primary prevention
against malaria and dengue fever includes avoiding the
mosquito vectors of these diseases: using insect repellant,
appropriate protective clothing, and bed netting. Hepatitis A
and B vaccinations are strongly recommended for all persons
before coming to Peru. Rabies is present in country, and
those individuals whose work and/or leisure activities might
expose them to wild animals or feral dogs should consider
receiving the rabies vaccine. Travelers diarrhea/dysentery is
quite common in Peru. Visitors should substitute bottled
beverages for potentially contaminated water. Fish,
shellfish, and vegetables should not be eaten unless well
cooked, and all food should be eaten while still hot. Fruits
with a peel are generally safe, provided they are peeled
before being eaten. Typhoid vaccine is also recommended.
Cholera is endemic in Peru and disease rates reach high
levels from January to May--the same food and bottled water
precautions apply. Travelrs planning to travel to high
altitude areas of Peru, such as Cuzco, Machu Picchu, and
Puno, should consult with their health care provider first,
and be fully aware of the health dangers of high altitudes
and measures to minimize these dangers.


7. (SBU) MEDICAL CLEARANCES:

All employees, including WAEs and Civil Service Employees,
who are in TDY status for more than 60 days (cumulatively) in
a calendar year are required to have up-to-date medical
clearances from the Office of Medical Services (Ref: SecState
243096) in order to receive full State Department medical
benefits including:

--Fully cleared TDY personnel receive supplemental medical
coverage from M/MED for conditions that arise overseas. This
coverage is in addition to, but does not replace, private
insurance coverage;

--Fully cleared TDY employees are eligible for full MEDEVAC
benefits should it become necessary to transport them from
their assigned posts for medical reasons by other than
standard commercial carrier;

--Fully cleared TDY personnel are entitled to use the
facilities of the Medical Unit at post on the same basis as
other permanently assigned personnel.

It is important to understand that if an employee is at a
post without a medical clearance and the embassy medical
provider determines that the employee has a condition that
cannot be adequately cared for at that post, the employee may
not be granted access to the embassy medical unit. Moreover,
an employee at post without a medical clearance is not/not
covered under M/MED for medical evacuation. While M/MED
cannot provide MEDEVAC coverage for TDY employees without
full clearances, private MEDEVAC insurance is available at
reasonable cost and the employee is strongly encouraged to
purchase the insurance. Private air ambulance medevacs can
cost upwards of $100,000. In addition, it is important for
the employee to review private health insurance coverage.
Many HMO type policies do not cover hospitalization costs
incurred outside of the USA. The employee will need to have a
policy type that will reimburse them for medical expenses
overseas.

A medical clearance can be obtained as follows:

If the WAE or other TDY employee lives in the Washington, DC
area, they can schedule a medical clearance exam by calling
(202) 663-1779 or e-mail to medclearances@state.gov.
Availability of examination dates depends on demand and
M/MED's standard priorities. If the exam is conducted in
Washington, there is no cost to the employee. If the employee
lives outside Washington, they may have their medical
clearance exam performed by a private doctor. TheWAE or TDY
employee can obtain the forms that the doctor needs to
complete by calling (202) 663-1668. Clearance exams performed
outside of MED are at the expense of the employee.

Contractors or other long-term TDY employees who are not
direct-hire USG employees are not covered under the
Department of State Medical Program and so would, in general,
fit under the guidelines above for TDY employees without a
medical clearance. They are not covered by M/MED for medevac
and should be covered by medevac insurance through their
contracting company. Access of these employees to the embassy
medical units is a post decision made by the Chief of Mission
or his designate acting upon the advice of the Regional
Medical Officer. Please contact the Embassy Health Unit for
further details.

Employees working TDY for less than 60 cumulative days
annually are not required to have medical clearances and are
not covered under the procedures above. Unfortunately these
short-term TDY employees frequently may have significant
health problems that may be exacerbated by overseas travel or
work and that may require a level of medical care that is not
available at the post where the TDY employees are working.
As with any international traveler on personal or business
travel, these employees should consult with their personal
physician regarding the safety or advisability of this travel.
STRUBLE