COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR TODD ANDERSON AND

UNCLAS MEXICO 000381 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AGAO OTRA PREL MX SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR TODD ANDERSON AND CHERYL GOODMAN OF GAO REF: STATE 07308 ¶1. Post welcomes and grants country clearance to Todd Anderson and Cheryl Goodman, of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for travel to Mexico City, Tijuana and Cancun February 5-11, 2007. The purpose of the visit to Mexico is to review the efforts of US agencies and multilateral organizations to combat trafficking in persons by meeting with USG personnel and representatives from the Mexican government, non-governmental organizations and international organizations. ¶2. Post control officer for the visit is Political Officer Walter R. Miller, telephone 52 (55) 5080-2000 ext 4806; fax 52 (55) 5080-2247; cell 202-468-7440; e-mail MillerWR@state.gov. The Embassy will support the visit by assisting in the arrangement of in-country transportation, lodging and meetings. ¶3. The Department of State has designated Mexico City as a critical threat post due to the high level of crime and the ineffectiveness and corruption of Mexican law enforcement. Robberies at gunpoint, pick pocketing, purse snatching, taxicab abductions and quick-kidnappings continue to cause us concern. Any hotel selected for you by the embassy will be safe, but it is still wise to store all valuables in a room safe or in a safe deposit box. Leaving expensive-looking jewelry at home and wearing a plastic watch will significantly improve your security profile. The Embassy cautions travelers that they should never hail a cruising taxi (or "libre" taxi) but should instead use airport-sanctioned taxis, taxis operating from fixed sites ("sitios"),or a cab called for you by your hotel. ¶4. Mexico does have health concerns. You should take normal tourist precautions with regard to drinking water, eating fresh fruits, vegetables and salads. Some employees react to the pollution and high altitude; so take things slowly at first. Travelers to Mexico City may require some time to adjust to the altitude (7000 ft.),which can adversely affect blood pressure, digestion, sleep, and energy level. Individuals with sickle cell trait should consult with the appropriate medical unit or their personal physician before commencing with travel. Short-term (TDY) assignments carry an added risk because of the lack of time to acclimatize. Dehydration, stress, or illnesses compound the basic risks of high altitude. ¶5. We encourage you to access further security and health related information as well as post access regulations for the region you are visiting at the Mission Mexico intranet homepage at http://mexicocity.state.gov/IntraMissMex.html or http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov. Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity GARZA