Country Clearance Approval - Annabella Reszczynski

UNCLAS LIMA 000083

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC OTRA PE
SUBJECT: Country Clearance Approval - Annabella Reszczynski

REF: Fax 01/10/07


1. (U) The Embassy grants country clearance for the visit to Piura,
Peru of Annabella Reszczynski, FSN, Agricultural Specialist, Area 1,
South America Region, International Services, APHIS/USDA from
January 15 through January 21, 2007. The purpose of travel is to
perform a Mango Pilot Project Evaluation. No embassy assistance
required.

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:

Eugene Philhower, Regional Agricultural Counselor, office telephone
number (51)(1)618-2491, cellular telephone (51)(1) 9885-6396.
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. Control officer should be
notified as soon as possible upon arrival in country if you are not
met at the airport.

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 Pilots",
MP-3 players, etc. within the Chancery facility. Such devices are
never authorized in CAA spaces and are not authorized connectivity
within OpenNet unclassified 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, bats or stray 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.
Travelers 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 who are at post in TDY status for more than 60 days
are required to have a medical clearance from the Office of Medical
Services. Contractors who are not direct-hire USG employees do not
have access to the Embassy Health Unit.
POWERS