COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR SECRETARY OF LABOR ELAINE L.

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002305 SIPDIS STATE PASS TO DEPT OF LABOR SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OVIP PGOV ELAB AR UY SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR SECRETARY OF LABOR ELAINE L. CHAO, DECEMBER 9-10, 2007 REF: SECSTATE 162148 SECSTATE 163927 ¶1. THE AMBASSADOR WARMLY WELCOMES SECRETARY OF LABOR ELAINE L. CHAO AND THE DELEGATION SHE WILL LEAD TO REPRESENT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AT THE PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION OF CRISTINA KIRCHNER AND MEET WITH GOA OFFICIALS. COUNTRY CLEARANCE IS GRANTED TO ALL THE SUPPORT STAFF NAMED IN REFTELS. ¶2. CONTROL OFFICER FOR THIS VISIT WILL BE POLITICAL OFFICER HEIDI GOMEZ. EMAIL: GOMEZHN@STATE.GOV; EMBASSY ADDRESS: AV. COLOMBIA ¶4300. EMBASSY PHONE 54-11-5777-4752 OR 4656; EMBASSY FAX 54-11-5777-4234. EMBASSY HOURS: 08:45 AM TO 05:45 PM. ADMINISTRATIVE POINT OF CONTACT WILL BE DAN FOOTE: E-MAIL FOOTEDL@STATE.GOV, PHONE 54-11-5777-4694 OR 4413. ¶3. POST HAS SECURED RESERVATIONS AT THE FOLLOWING HOTEL: HOTEL EMPERADOR - BUENOS AIRES LIBERTADOR 420(C1001ABR) BUENOS AIRES - ARGENTINA TEL.: (5411) 4131 - 4000 FAX: (5411) 4131 - 3910 2 STANDARD ROOMS, DECEMBER 3-11 (9 NIGHTS) 1 STANDARD ROOM , DECEMBER 6-10 (5 NIGHTS) 1 DELUXE ROOM, DECEMBER 6-10 (5 NIGHTS) 4 STANDARD ROOMS, DECEMBER 8-9 (2 NIGHTS) 1 JR. SUITE DECEMBER 9 (1 NIGHTS) 2 DELUXE ROOMS, DECEMBER 8-10 (3 NIGHTS) 1 JR. SUITE (DECEMBER 9-10 ; 2 NIGHTS)+ 3 ROOMS FOR STATE PROTOCOL OFFICERS, DECEMBER 9 (1 NIGHTS) 1 JR. SUITE FOR CONTROL ROOM, DECEMBER 7-11 (5 NIGHTS) HOTEL RATE FOR STANDARD ROOM: USD 135.00 + 21% TAX= USD 164.00 BREAKFAST IS INCLUDED HOTEL RATE FOR JR. SUITE: USD 270 + 21% TAX= USD 327.00 BREAKFAST IS INCLUDED HOTEL RATE FOR DELUXE ROOMS: USD 175 + 21% TAX= USD 212.00 CANCELLATIONS ARE PERMITTED AT NO CHARGE 48 HOURS PRIOR TO ARRIVAL, AFTER THAT ONE NIGHT WILL BE CHARGED. ¶4. VISAS: VISITORS ARE REMINDED THAT ARGENTINA REQUIRES VISAS IN US 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. ¶5. AIRPORT TAX: OFFICIAL VISITORS, HOLDING DIPLOMATIC 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, WITH TRAVELER'S CHECKS OR CREDIT CARDS. ¶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 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 LARGE U.S. CITIES. 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 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 LARGE U.S. CITIES. ¶7. ACCOMMODATION EXCHANGE WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE CONTROL ROOM AT THE HOTEL DURING SET HOURS ON SATURDAY, SUNDAY, AND MONDAY. ¶8. EMBASSY ACCESS: STATE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES SHOULD BRING THEIR STATE ID CARDS/BUILDING PASSES TO BUENOS AIRES TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO THE CHANCERY. ¶9. DIRECT DIAL TELEPHONE ACCESS WITH INTERNATIONAL DIALING CAPABILITY WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE HOTEL CONTROL ROOM, AND CELL PHONES WILL BE DISTRIBUTED PER DEPARTMENT OF LABOR INSTRUCTIONS. TELEPHONE NUMBERS WILL BE AS FOLLOWS: (54-11) 4326-3062,(54-11)4393-3404 AND FAX(54-11) 4393-1282. ¶10. TWO COMPUTERS EQUIPPED WITH THE FOLLOWING: CD ROM, FLOPPY DRIVE, USB PORTS, ONE ROUTER, TWO PRINTERS AND INTERNET ACCESS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR USE IN THE HOTEL CONTROL ROOM. LAPTOP COMPUTERS/DIGITAL CAMERAS/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 OF 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 OF THE CAA. USE OF CELLULAR PHONES OUTSIDE OF THE CAA IS NOT RESTRICTED. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT IF 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. 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. ¶12. THIS TELEGRAM HAS BEEN CLEARED BY THE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES. ¶13. VISIT THE EMBASSY BUENOS AIRES WEBPAGE AT: HTTP://ARGENTINA.USEMBASSY.GOV KELLY